Two Great Dunmow businesswomen have set themselves the challenge of walking the length of Britain – ­without even leaving the comfort of their shops.

Zoe Brady, of Zoe’s Coffee Shop, and Jane Turton, of Scrumptious Tearooms, and their staff are ­planning to clock up 1,010 miles, the equivalent of going from John O’Groats, in Scotland, to Land’s End, in Cornwall, while at work.

Three members of staff from each eatery will be attaching pedometers to their aprons and will count up how far they have travelled during their shift.

At the end of every week they will add together the distance covered.

The pair launched the challenge yesterday (Wednesday) and hope to have reached the Cornwall landmark in time for Christmas.

“The idea first came about when a customer said he would be ­interested to know how many miles we walked in a day because we are always on our feet,” Zoe told the Broadcast.

“It will be quite fun to actually see the numbers because by the time we get home from work we are shattered.”

Zoe and Jane are asking their customers to show their support and donate any loose change to their pot as all money raised will be going to Alzheimer’s and the mayor’s youth fund.

Zoe added: “I wanted to donate to Alzheimer’s because a lot of my customers husbands and wives suffer from dementia.

“I liked the idea of offsetting it against something for the youth and the mayor’s project was the perfect choice.

“Whatever people can give, however big or small, will be a great help.”

There will be a map of Britain displayed in both Zoe’s Coffee Shop, on High Street, and Scrumptious Tearooms, on Market Place, and they will document how far they have gone each week.

Jane said: “This is about working together, supporting the town and supporting local charities.

“We hope to have covered the 1,010 miles by Christmas, but if we are short you may see us running up and down the High Street!”