Cricket legend Ian Botham hoped to create some fund-raising rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge as he continued his charity walk with celebrities and cancer patients in both cities yesterday.

It is the first time Mr Botham, nicknamed Beefy, has included Oxford in his annual charity walk, now in its 11th year.

Starting at Marks & Spencer in Queen Street, he was joined by former England rugby player Simon Halliday and ex-Labour spin doctor Alistair Campbell as part of his nationwide journey to raise money for Leukaemia Research and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

His nine-day tour covers two cities a day, alongside big names like pop star Ronan Keating, paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson and decathlete Daley Thompson.

Speaking before the walk, he said: "I've been looking forward to doing Oxford.

"We are walking in Cambridge in the morning and we want to see which city is the most generous - there should be a bit of competition going on."

Mr Botham added: "It's totally different from playing cricket - in one situation you are playing for your country, in the other you are aching for sick children. They are two separate battles and you want to win both of them."

"All the kids have been cheering, the support has been immense, the celebrities have been fantastic and the public has been amazing."

Although his hands suffered from swelling during the walk, he claims his legs have been fine.

He said: "Aches and pains - you get them. But then you see children with leukaemia and it's nothing compared to what they're going through."

Mr Botham was inspired to start his £8m campaign for charity after meeting some cancer-stricken children when he was in hospital for a foot injury more than 25 years ago.

He said: "Back then in 1985, the survival rate was 20 per cent. Now I'm on my 11th walk, the survival rate has gone up to 80 per cent."

Stuart Rose, chief executive of Marks & Spencer, one of Mr Botham's sponsors, said: "We're hoping to raise a big chunk of cash."