A total of 600 women joined together to walk for Weldmar Hospicecare in Weymouth in its eleventh Midnight Walk.

Together, they have raised at least £60,000, which will help Weldmar continue to provide its outstanding care, supporting patients with end of life needs.

The walkers took on one of three routes, starting at Weymouth College at midnight. There was a 5 mile, a 6.5 mile and a 10 mile route - with the last walkers arriving back at base at around 3am.

Caroline Hamblett, chief executive of Weldmar Hospicecare, took part for the first time since joining the organisation last year - and walked the 10-mile route with a group dressed as Carmen Miranda, to celebrate this year’s Brazilian Carnival theme.

She said: “Thank you to all who came to our Midnight Walk. It’s been a fantastic evening with a great atmosphere. It’s been so inspirational to see so many people here. Women remembering people; women enjoying themselves. It’s been absolutely wonderful. I just want to say ‘thank you’ to everyone involved this evening - we couldn’t do it without you”.

A team of over 100 volunteers helped to make the evening a huge success - and the event was led by Clair Walker, Weldmar’s Major Events Fundraiser.

She said: "I was very proud to be able to organise this year’s Midnight Walk - one of Weldmar’s biggest fundraising events of the year. But it was the help of all the fabulous volunteers that made the night work so well - some of them arrived at 1.30pm on Saturday and didn’t leave until 5am on Sunday morning.

"Without this dedicated team, providing their help and support, we wouldn’t be able to hold any of our events. They should be very proud of themselves. I also want to say a thank you to this evening’s main sponsors - Roger McGhee Estate Agents - for being so generous.

“Lastly, I would like to thank each and every lady that came tonight, and helped to raise such a huge amount of money. We rely so much on the support of our local community.”

Many of the walkers had very personal reasons for walking for Weldmar, and included the names of those being remembered on the back of their special Midnight Walk tshirts.

And one walker, Freja Arlow, chose to celebrate her 18th birthday with Weldmar and 600 women, who all gave a huge cheer for her when this was announced on the stage.