TWO students will be treading carefully this summer when they walk 560 miles barefoot across France and Spain.

Seb Rounds and his friend Hugh Davies started the gruelling trek today to raise money for The Cambodian Children's Charity - Camkids.

The pair will complete the entire journey, from Pau in south west France to Santiago de Compostela in north west Spain, with no socks and shoes.

The five-week trek will take them along one of the traditional routes of the Camino de Santiago (The Way of Saint James), walked by thousands of pilgrims and back-packers each year.

Seb, 20, of Marshalswick, St Albans, said: "It is an incredible feeling to walk barefoot.

"It is quite a liberating experience, which takes us away from the restrictions of everyday life. It's like taking in the countryside and our surroundings on another level - with another sense."

Having both travelled through Cambodia and much of south east Asia, the men witnessed poverty first hand and decided to give all of the proceeds from their adventure to a deserving cause.

Camkids was founded to help the orphans and street children of Cambodia. It also helps children living in poor rural areas and those affected by natural disasters, such as flood or famine. More than half the population of Cambodia is under 18.

In a country crippled by decades of war, international embargoes, political instability and economic stagnation, the welfare of Cambodian children is in serious need of attention. Child abandonment and HIV/Aids are also at some of the highest levels in the world.

Seb is studying for an English literature degree and Hugh, who lives in Balham, London, is studying American studies.

The two friends, who met at Nottingham University and have both just completed their first year of studies, hope to complete the pilgrimage by August 8.

They will be sleeping in hostels and in the open air along the route.

For more information about Camkids visit www.camkids.org and if you would like to sponsor Seb and Hugh you should visit www.justgiving.com/barefootcamino