The wife of a nuclear test veteran has been striding out to complete a series of fund-raising walks for charity.

Mary Carbery’s husband Ray witnessed five atom bomb tests during his early 20s on Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean.

Now Mary, at the sprightly age of 76, has been doing a series of walks to raise funds for the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association.

Her first walk was from her home in Glen Vine to Close Leece farm on Patrick Road, St John’s, where she enjoyed a late breakfast with Ray who acted as her support driver.

Last week, she completed four laps of Mooragh Park in Ramsey.

And when the weather improves, sometime this week, she’s planning to do her third and final fund-raising walk, with journey’s end in St John’s village.

Mary, who helps those with learning difficulties as a relief worker at Cronk Grianagh, said she has raised more than £400 so far and expects that figure to reach £500-plus by the time she hand over her cheque to the Nuclear Test Veterans charity.

Former Royal Engineer Ray visited Kiritimati last year on the 60th anniversary of the atomic bomb tests.

Recalling the fateful day on April 28, 1958, he said: ’We were told to face away and place the heels of our hands in our eye sockets. You could see the bones in your hands.

’We didn’t know the implications of it. When you’re that young you’re looking at everything wide-eyed. It was the first time I’d been out of Britain.’

Mr Carbery himself suffers with stomach issues that were developed while at Kiritimati.