GLASTONBURY founder Michael Eavis was in Bishops Cannings bright and early on Saturday to give charity walkers a send off they deserve at the start of a marathon hike.

A total of 500 people signed up for the Walk Of Life organised by The Forever Friends Appeal at the Royal United Hospital, Bath and raised more than £50,000.

Walk ambassador Mr Eavis was at The Crown pub in the village near Devizes for the 8am start as hikers set off towards the tow path of the Kennet & Avon Canal for their 26.2 mile walk that would take them through Bradford on Avon and finish at the hospital.

Others joined the walk in Bradford to do the final ten miles and were joined by BBC presenter Ali Vowles.

The The Walk Of Life is held each year in memory of Vanessa Kyte from Rudge, near Trowbridge, who died in 2007 seven years after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Events and community officer for The Forever Friends Appeal, Emily Lynch said: "The walk went incredibly well with Mr Eavis, who is a big supporter of ours, seeing our all day 26.2 mile walkers off at 8am and Ali seeing our afternoon 10 mile walkers off at 1pm.

"Our current fundraising total has just surpassed £50,000 which will go towards our Cancer Care Campaign and other wards and departments in the hospital but there are with more funds coming in by the hour. A final fundraising total will be announced by June.

"We are so grateful to everyone across Bath, Somerset and Wiltshire for supporting the 2017 Walk of Life and making it a sold out event." She was delighted that last year's total of £40,000 has already been beaten.

The Forever Friends Appeal is the primary charity for Bath’s Royal United Hospital. It is raising £8.5 million towards a new cancer centre. Through support from the public and major donations from The James Dyson Foundation & Medlock Charitable Trust, the Appeal have currently raised £8 million for the new Cancer Centre.