HUNDREDS of walkers raised thousands of pounds for the NSPCC to provide local services to children in West Devon on Sunday, when they took part in one of two sponsored walks.

St Paul's Church Hall at Yelverton was manned throughout Sunday for the two walks, one of 22 miles and one of five, both of which started and ended at the hall. Volunteers were on site from 6am to 7.30pm to register the walkers, give out maps and instructions, monitor their safe progress and welcome them back with food, drink and certificates at the end.

Other volunteers prepared meals and cakes and manned checkpoints around the routes, which took in Whitchurch, Merrivale, Burrator, Sheepstor and Clearbrook. The event was sponsored by Go Outdoors and food was donated by Spar Appleby Westward, Marks and Spencer Crownhill Simply Food Store, Yelverton Co-operative Store and Morrisons Supermarket. Tavistock Lions Club provided marshalls and car park attendants.

Walkers came from across the country but mainly from the local area despite the rain forecast.

Plymouth and West Devon NSPCC chairman Sam Doel said: 'We are very grateful to all who took part in this event to help children in West Devon and their families.'