MORE than 800 ladies took to the streets of Colchester in their finest Disco Diva clothes and accessories for St Helena Hospice’s 9th annual Midnight Walk.

The hundreds of walkers took part in the three mile or seven-and-a-half-mile walk through the streets of Colchester to raise money for charity.

The weather stayed dry for the walkers on Saturday night, with others walked in memory of a loved one or because the hospice has supported them personally.

Lynn Love, 59, of Colchester, who was pushed in a wheelchair around the longer route by her family, friends and work colleagues from The Gilberd School.

Lynn, who has an aggressive and incurable brain tumour, stepped over the finish line with a little help from St Helena Hospice Occupational Therapists Anne Pettican and Laura Murton.

Rebecca Litton, one of Lynn’s colleagues from The Gilberd School who was one of the team with Lynn all the way around the walk, said: “We all feel invigorated and I feel really pleased I've done it. I'm really proud of Lynn. Watching her take a step over the finish line was the best moment. That is brilliant and I'm so proud of her.”

Earlier in the night the Midnight Walk ladies were treated to a warm up from Move 2 Lose and enjoyed a fire juggling display from the University of Essex’s Juggling and Magic Society.

The new Mayor of Colchester Gerard Oxford got the walk underway at 10.30pm with a countdown. Around 120 women chose to walk the three mile route, while the rest opted for the traditional seven-and-a-half miles, both starting and ending at Colchester United’s Community Stadium.

Hundreds of ladies who were walking in memory of a loved one took the opportunity to have a quiet moment along the route to hang their personal messages on a special tree stationed at Colchester Rugby Club.

The last seven mile walkers arrived tired but elated around 2.30am on Sunday. The hospice is hoping that this year’s event will beat last year’s Midnight Walk fundraising total of £76,000 and urges participants to send in their sponsorship money soon.

Wendy Marcon, Events and Challenges Manager at St Helena Hospice, said: “Our huge thanks to everyone who took part in this year’s Midnight Walk and made it a really special night. We hope to see you again next year for our 10th anniversary walk!

“A special thank you to our 76 wonderful volunteers for giving up their time to help make the event a success; we couldn’t have done it without them.”

Visit www.sthelenahospice.org.uk/donate.