Dartmoor is set to be taken over by hundreds of clowns, lions and ringmasters at the beginning of next month, as St Luke's Hospice holds its annual 'Walk on the Wildside'.

The 13-mile sponsored walk is now in its ninth year. The walk, which has a circus fancy dress theme this year, will begin at the Lopes Arms, Roborough, where walkers will follow a route, visiting a memorial hall and a further four pubs — the Devon Tors, Walkhampton Memorial Hall, Burrator Inn, the Royal Oak at Meavy and the Skylark, before returning to the Lopes Arms for a family barbecue.

To launch the event, several St Luke's and the Lopes Arms staff and volunteers and entertainers from the Plymouth Community Circus donned their outfits at the Lopes Arms at the end of March.

The street was awash with colour, craziness and a hive of activity with stilt walking, fire breathing, fun and laughter, giving a small glimpse of what to expect at the actual event on Sunday May 6.

The costumes for the launch were donated by Jama Uneek. Kate from Jama Uneek said: 'I really love to help St Luke's Hospice at every opportunity. The Walk on the Wildside is a fantastic event, if you are looking to stand out from the crowd, then pop in and see me on Cornwall Street, Plymouth.'

Jama Uneek is offering a 15% discount to anyone requiring a circus-style costume for the walk.

The entry fee for the walk is £5 for adults and £3 for children, which includes an item from the barbecue and everyone taking part will be awarded a medal.

For more information or to download a registration form, contact the hospice fundraising department on 01752 492626 or visit http://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk">www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk