A Keighley minister has followed in the steps of tenth century pilgrims.

The Rev Gordon Webb, Keighley and Worth Valley's Methodist circuit superintendent, has just returned from "The Way of St James" -- a pilgrims' trek from the Pyrenees across northern Spain.

The destination was the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela, in north-west Spain.

This is where it is believed the remains of the apostle St James are buried.

Mr Webb explains: "The 12 apostles were given responsibility for different geographical areas. St James had Spain.

"He was back in Palestine in 43AD when he was executed by King Herod, a descendent of the Herod who tried to kill baby Jesus.

"Legend has it that St James's remains were brought back by boat around the west coast of Spain and buried at Compostela.

"They were then lost for some centuries and rediscovered in the ninth or tenth century AD."

This is when the pilgrimages began.

When his six-week sabbatical came up, Mr Webb decided he wanted to follow part of the 800-mile route. Methodist ministers have compulsory sabbaticals every seven years. During this break they do something, which involves reflection and write a report on it.

Mr Webb covered a stretch from Le Puy over 200km to the region of Gascony (south west France), on holiday last May. The remainder, from the Pyrenees was completed over three weeks when his sabbatical began this July.

But, says Mr Webb: "We cheated because we had car back up, didn't walk the whole route and didn't stay in pilgrimage hostels. We stayed in cheap hotels instead. We would've needed to prepare ourselves for months to do the thing properly."

But with wife Janet and back-up driver, their son Andrew, they still managed to cover 90 miles on foot.

The trek was rewarded by the beautiful scenery and cities like Len and Burgos, he adds.

They reached Santiago in time for the Festival of St James on July 25.

In the main pilgrims' mass the next day the world's biggest incense burner was used. The silver Botafumiero weighs 80kg and takes eight men and a pulley to swing 20ft above people's heads.

Mr Webb has documented his journey in a report soon to be published and submitted to local methodist leaders then his congregation.