HUNDREDS of women took to the streets of Colchester in their finest and brightest neon clothes to raise money for charity.

Nearly 900 women whose ages ranged from 11 to 80 took part in St Helena Hospice’s eighth annual Midnight Walk.

The event started and finished at Colchester United’s Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Participants could choose between a three or 7.5-mile course and the final walkers returned to the stadium at 2.30am yesterday.

Many carried tributes to loved ones on their t-shirts and people were also able to hang personal messages on a special memory tree at Colchester Rugby Club.

Before the walk began, Colchester’s X Factor favourite Stevi Ritchie entertained the crowd with a typically high energy performance.

He got the crowd going and congratulated the women on their good deed to help the charity.

Delighted events manager for the hospice Fliss Stroode said: “A massive thank you to everyone who took part in this year’s Midnight Walk.

“Every woman who took part was fantastic and really made it a very special night.

“We hope to see them again next year.

“A special thank you to our wonderful volunteers for giving up their time to help make the event a success; we couldn’t have done it without them. “ She added: “We’re also extremely grateful to all of the local companies who have helped make the event possible by donating their goods or services.”

Tina Turness walked in memory of her sister Helen, who had lived with cancer and died at St Helena Hospice in December last year aged 51.

Tina said: “The hospice was wonderful with her three boys.

“If they had questions there was always someone to answer them, especially after Helen passed away.

“Nothing was too much trouble.

“They were fantastic. I can’t thank them enough for what they did for her.

“I’ve done this walk for Helen.”

Sponsorship money is still being counted but organisers are hoping to raise £95,000 which will take the total for the event’s history to more than £1 million.

St Helena Hospice cares for people with life-limiting illnesses from across north Essex through a range of services.

It cares for those with serious illnesses in its in-patient unit in Colchester but also offers support at home.

The hospice and its staff also run a day centre in Clacton and a range of therapies such as music and art.

A bereavement service is also offered for the families of those who have died.

All of St Helena Hospice services are free for people to access. The cost of running the hospice is around £8.7 million a year.

More than two thirds of this cost is raised through the support of the community.

Anyone wanting more information, can go to www.sthelena hospice.org.uk.