Coronation Street star Steve Huison led a 12-mile sponsored bedpush from Leeds to Bradford yesterday to raise money to help young people in mental health crises.

The Shipley actor, who plays Eddie Windass in the soap, took part in the bed push to raise money and awareness of the Soteria Network.

The network wants to open the first UK Soteria house in Bradford.

The Fully Monty star has already helped the project by providing a pair of prized pants from the hit film for auction on eBay.

He said: “The bedpush has been a great success.

“We have had a lot of support, a lot of people peeping their horns, a lot of people asking what we are doing and we have given out loads of leaflets.

“To get this charity up and running we need to raise £25,000 to keep it running every year.

“It has a different approach to dealing with people with mental illnesses that isn't totally reliant on medication, using tried and tested methods that have been practised in the states for the last 30 years with a very high success rate.”

He said the bedpush, which took six-and-half-hours to complete, raised £3,000. The event, held on Saturday, started outside the Old Workhouse entrance of St James’s Hospital in Leeds, before making its way through Leeds city centre, Headingley, Kirkstall, Stanningley and Thornbury before arriving at the Bradford Playhouse.

The Playhouse then hosted a fundraising cabaret throughout the event with live music, poetry and dancing.

Ian Lord, a volunteer for the Soteria Network, said about 20 people took part in the event. He said: “Coming up the hill to Stanningley was hard work and we were very grateful for the stop at the top for the drink.

“By and large though the bed sort of has its own momentum so as long as there was three of four people with it, it rolls along quite nicely.

“By mid-afternoon we were quite hot, but it was nice coming down the hill into Bradford.”

The Soteria Network provides an alternative and compassionate approach to mental distress.

Its model of care is a clinically proven, effective alternative to hospitalisation and is used in many countries.

The proposed house in Bradford will provide a safe, social setting for young people to recover, with the aid of trained volunteers.

People can make donations to the project on the Soteria Network website. Those who meet the minimum donation rate and upload a photo will also received a portrait of their photo by Mr Huison. For more information on the project or to make a donation visit soteriannetwork.org.uk.