TEAMS totalling 80 walkers took on this year's White Horse Challenge, spanning 52 miles and seven chalk horses, to raise money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

The challenge, organised by Monahans Chartered Accountants, Rygor, and Rocking Horse Nursery, celebrated its 11th anniversary at the weekend and has so far raised more than £13,000.

Zoe Meaden from Monahans said: "The event has raised over £126,000 so far and we are excited to see how much that increased this year. Hayden's Bakeries took part and also provided cakes to hungry walkers en route, which kept everyone smiling.

"This is such a vital cause in Wiltshire and we are proud to offer our support."

Hikers walked a variety of routes, including a seven-mile family trek on Saturday, a 27-mile trek on Saturday, a 25-mile trek on Sunday or the full 52 miles over the weekend.

Kenresa Stratford, fundraising co-ordinator at Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s White Horse Challenge and we’re extremely grateful to the organisers for yet another successful event.

“We entered a team of 12 this year, doing distances ranging from the family challenge of seven miles to the entire 52-mile challenge, and all of us really enjoyed ourselves. It was fantastic to see our own charity of the year partners, Emery Gate Shopping Centre in Chippenham and Haydens Bakery in Devizes, putting in teams and doing the whole challenge to support our lifesaving service. A special thank you goes to Haydens for supplying the participants with cakes at the checkpoints, a very welcome treat."

“Wiltshire Air Ambulance is a charity and we need to raise £3.25 million a year to keep our helicopter and crew flying and saving lives.”

For more information visit www.whitehorsechallenge.co.uk.