MORE than 100 people have walked over hot coals to raise money for Malawi.

A firewalk was held in Wivenhoe to raise money to build a borehole in Mkhunkhu, which would allow the villagers to have clean drinking water.

The charity, Love Support Unite, ended up raising almost double their target of £5,000.

This amount would be enough to build one borehole, but the group raised £9,200.

Charity worker Gayle Berry, of Sprindrift Way in Wivenhoe, was amongst those who took on the firewalk challenge along with husband Joe, daughter Emily, 14, and sons Xavier, 12, and Caspar, 10.

Mrs Berry said the charity has already built and refurbished three school buildings in the village as well as preparing the land to grow crops.

She said: “It was amazing so many people got behind it, we had over 100 people which was incredible.

“My family were really amazing and the kids were one of the first to do the walk.

“I am just overwhelmed by the amount we raised and although we were brave to do the walk it is down to the people who sponsored us as well.”

Wivenhoe mayor Ian Endean and staff from The Flag pub, where the event was held, and Michael’s Property Consultants also took part.

The team of 12 from the consultants raised £1,700 between them.

Michael Simpson, Director of the company, who walked the burning 15 feet path, said: “It was really good fun but really scary. I have never done it before but I would 100 per cent do it again.

"Getting the Wivenhoe community together was quite touching.”

He said the walk felt like warm egg shells under his feet.

He said: “I thought there would be a knack to it but we had a briefing beforehand on how to get into the right mind set.

“I ended up spreading my toes and got a few blisters from that but otherwise there was not a scratch on us.”