MORE than £10,000 was raised for the Dartmoor Search and Rescue charity on Sunday as a group of 150 people set off from Haytor on a gruelling 18-mile walk to Shaldon along the Templer Way.

The mayor of Bovey Tracey, Cllr Ulli Arnold, got the walk underway by blowing a horn and the crowds flocked behind him.

From the granite rock setting the walkers trotted off the moors to Liverton’s Great Plantation and on to Stover Country Park for a spot of lunch before moving on to Newton Abbot Town Quay.

From the quay the fundraisers continued their journey along the Shaldon side of the River Teign until they reached the Coombe Cellars for another quick pitstop before finishing the last leg of the challenge at the London Inn, Shaldon.

As well as the 150 walkers, five people went one better and ran the 18-mile trek.

This year’s main sponsor was The Plastic Surgeon of Bovey Tracey, who contributed £5,358 of the £10,000 total.

Alan Pewsy, fundraising officer for the search and rescue team, said: ‘We are very grateful to the team at The Plastic Surgeon who have played a huge part in the success of this year’s event.

‘Their enthusiasm has been infectious with the event being the most successful fundraising event we have ever put on.’

Alan added: ‘We would like to extend a very big thank you to all participants, their supporters, team members, Plastic Surgeon and Sibelco who also sponsored the event again this year.

‘Early feedback we have had from participants and team members alike is that they thoroughly enjoyed the day and we will definitely be looking to run the event again in April 2017.’