A GROUP of determined women will walk five million steps a month for an entire year to raise money for a collection of charities close to their hearts.

Sixteen women from Swanage are putting their best foot forward and each committed to walking more than 10,000 steps a day for a whole year.

They began their challenge on January 1 and had already walked 1,300,000 steps by the end of their first week.

Each month the group will choose a local charity to raise money for and donate every penny they raise to them.

The first charity the group has chosen to support is YouFirst Dorset, a council-run service working with people who are experiencing domestic and sexual violence, abuse and stalking.

Agnes Szabo, a spokeswoman for the group, said: "We all decided that YouFirst should be the first charity that we should support.

"This lockdown must be so terrible for those people that are in abusive relationships and do not feel safe in their own homes so we want to raise as much as we can to help support them.

"It is really important to us to choose local charities. All charities are in need of support but we would like to keep it here in Dorset to help our community."

The group is made up of 16 women aged between 30 and 70. Some are retired and some have day jobs including a housekeeper and a property manager, and they must all find the time to complete their daily steps which are recorded by one of the team members.

Agnes said: "No one has any excuses for not going out and doing their steps - it's not like we can go on holiday or anything!

"We have all committed to doing our steps, come rain or shine."

The group, who all know each other from living in their village, has raised more than £700 already this month but hope to raise £3,000 every month for the next year.

Agnes thinks the £36,000 total for the year is ambitious but achievable.

She said: "It's a lot of money to raise but we are staying positive and we think we can do it. Everyone on the team is playing their part and together we will help so many charities."

To donate to the group's fundraiser, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/anne-marie-battle