INTREPID walkers who trekked 31 miles from dawn til dusk have raised £7,000 for St Richard's Hospice.

The team of seven managers from The Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest's commercial office in Whittington, near Worcester, took part in the adventure.

Phil Dutton, Robin Mayo, Jayne Farrell, Ian Williams, Richard Mander and Tim Rolph joined 160 people, walking from Bewdley to the Malvern Hills.

Mr Dutton, director of commercial banking at RBS said: "We all put in training for the Walk which was essential as we needed a lot of stamina to keep going - but it was a wonderful feeling of achievement at the end.

"We are all very grateful to our customers and friends who supported us by donating thousands of pounds for St Richard's."

The sponsorship money was topped up with £2,000 from the RBS Community Cashback Awards, a bank scheme that recognises the fundraising activities of staff.

Tricia Cavell, hospice fundraising manager said: "The team have raised a fantastic amount of money between them for the hospice and we are extremely grateful.

"It was an enjoyable, but tough day for all our walkers - trekking 31 miles in one day is not a walk in the park."

The event is organised by the charity, which has a hospice in Worcester's Wildwood Drive, and in the three years since it started walkers have raised almost £100,000 to help patients with cancer and other life-threatening illness.