Hearts and adrenaline were pumping when women grasped the challenge of driving powerful vehicles to raise thousands of pounds for the Prospect Hospice.

The Ladies’ Driving Challenge saw about 90 women gather at RAF Lyneham on Sunday to try out police cars, lorries, buses and JCBs – raising an estimated £10,000.

The annual event, now in its fifth year, has raised more than £50,000 in sponsorship since it was first staged.

Organiser Dan McNally said: “The ladies really enjoyed it. They really got together as a team and made the most of every drive.”

About 30 women took part in a morning session and about 60 turned out in the afternoon. They were given demonstrations of how to drive the vehicles before each were allowed to take the wheel.

Lindsey Lee, of Broome Manor, drove a police car around a line of cones at speed. She said: “It was great. Obviously you are not going at the same speed as when they demonstrated it but it was very good. It is exciting.”

Her daughter Helen Wolstenholme, 32, agreed: “It was fantastic. I wanted to go as fast as the police did but then you think you are going to spin over.”