Thick footed adrenaline junkies walked over hot coals for St Clare Hospice.

On Sunday (October 28) the Hastingwood hospice hosted its annual Autumn Firewalk challenge.

After attending a motivational training session in which fundraisers smashed wooden slabs with their bare hands and snapped wooden arrows on their necks, brave hospice supporters lined up to walk barefoot over red-hot wood embers, smouldering at more than 800 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cheryl Armitage, hospice director of income generation, was one of the fire-walkers to take part in the event.

She said: “This was an experience that will stay with me forever!

"When I approached the fire, in full blaze when I arrived at 3pm, I thought that there was no way I could take on this challenge.

"However, after the amazing training session, and seeing the fire had calmed down to grey and red embers, I just had to think about all the people I was walking for – all the incredibly brave people we support here at St Clare.

"Taking the first step was so strange, completely going against my instincts.

"Yet, once I conquered my fear and walked across the hot coals, I felt like I could take on anything."

The event raised more than £2,500 for the West Essex and East Herts charity.

For more information on taking on a challenge for St Clare, visit their website at stclarehospice.org.uk/get-involved/challenges