DAREDEVILS faced their fears and hot-footed it over 500 degree heat as part of a frightening Halloween charity fire walk.

The event on Saturday at The Sun Inn, Coate, saw dozens of plucky participants jeered on by onlookers who watched with trepidation as they stepped on the “off the scale hot” flames.

First to summon up the courage to barefoot it across the burning embers was mum Michelle Basson who organised the event.

“I was scared like hell, but I thought, you know what I’m going to do it anyway,” said the 45-year-old after achieving the fiery feat.

All the fire walkers had a briefing beforehand with Time4Change, who were supervising the fire walk, to get them in the right mood.

Erika Fowers, 54, from Walcot was among them, she said: “It was amazing.

“When you were walking on it you didn’t really feel it because you were so psyched and felt strong inside. We’ve all got fear but it is how you deal with it.

“I’m buzzing, all the butterflies have turned into electric energy.”

Jacqui Ferris-Woods, who this year also jumped out of a plane and touched a snake for the first time, added: “In the briefing I was fine but then I came out and took one look at the fire and thought oh dear. I felt quite sick waiting to go on.

“I would do it again now. You can feel the heat, but you don’t feel as though you are burning."

Michelle, who has been a victim of domestic abuse, wanted the walk to be an opportunity to face her fears and raise money for charity, as well her own Anything is Possible, which she has set up with her mother and sister to children who suffer bullying or domestic abuse.

She added: “There are so many people who have called this fire walk life-changing because they have had so many things that have held them back, me included, that have made them feel scared.

“But if you can do something like this it gives you a tool to put your fear to one side.”

For Michelle’s mum Maria Basson, 63, it was about conquering a life-long phobia of fire.

She said: “When Michelle suggested she wanted to do a fire walk I can’t tell you how sick in the stomach I felt and I’ve been like that for four months knowing this day was coming.

“To have done it I feel absolutely elated. The whole day has been amazing, the atmosphere has been absolutely brilliant.”

Meanwhile Michelle, who also arranged music, a raffle and hogroast, added: “I am incredibly proud of my mum especially because this was conquering a life-long fear for her.

“Everyone did really well. I’m really glad that people can take away something from this event that you can’t put a price on.

"I am planning for this to be a yearly event. These things start small and they grow.”