MORE than 250 walkers took part in a charity walking event.

The annual Rotary Moonraker overnight walking challenge was held on Saturday, October 13, at Taunton Racecourse.

This year saw 52 teams complete the two courses, a seven-mile and 15-mile walk.

The first walkers left at 4pm and the last team arrived back at 2.30am.

This year a team of seven from Somerset Sight, a charity that offers help to people with sight impairment, took part in the challenge. The team were praised for their achievement, which included visually impaired staff members Liam Harkness and Heidi Linegar. Their team of two partially sighted walkers, two with no sight at all, and three sighted guides completed the seven mile course over fields, stiles, streams and up and down steep hills in 4hours and 48 minutes. They were greeted by spontaneous applause on their return to the Racecourse base by all the other walkers and helpers.

The winning teams on the short course were -1st Blister Sisters, 2nd Friends of Kings Hall, 3rd Director Skittles.

For the long course: 1st Inadequate 7, 2nd We thought it was a disco, 3rd FC.

As well as Somerset Sight, the other main charity supported by the event is Taunton Opportunity Group, the pre-school for children with special needs, such as Cerebral Palsy, Autism, and Down's Syndrome.

Keith Bigwood , the Taunton Vale Rotary Club President, said: "I am most grateful for the enthusiastic support of all the walkers - young and old - I also thank the team of over 60 helpers on the night who made the event possible.

"I am very pleased with this year's results, and it looked as everyone had an enjoyable - but tiring - night out on the walk supporting two very worthwhile local charities."

It is hope the event will raise more than £10,000, but the official figure has not been finalised yet.