A RECORD 3,200 people took to the streets of Manchester’s at midnight on Friday to trek 10km round the city in aid of St Ann’s Hospice.

The annual Manchester Midnight Walk began at Manchester Central where the crowd was warmed up by GMTV’s Mr Motivator and Key 103’s Darren Proctor.

Celebrities taking part in the walk included BBC Street Doctors’ regular Dr Barbara Murray and Coronation Street’s Kate Anthony and Emma Edmundson along with Sinead Moynihan of Hollyoaks fame.

Sponsorship is still be calculated but fundraisers from the hospice are confident last year’s £175,000 has been smashed.

Catherine Williams, director of fundraising and communications for the hospice, said: “We were overwhelmed with the number of participants on the starting line who were so excited and uniquely dressed and willing to give their evening to help such a worthy cause.

“Another thank you goes to all of the celebrities who once again supported us, be it through participation in the walk, messages of support or taking the time to sign or model our t-shirts – once again they have been instrumental in raising the profile of the walk and encouraging so many people to take part this evening.

“The help and support from everyone involved in tonight’s event will mean the hospice can continue to offer a superb standard of care not only to patients, but to their families and carers as well.”

The Manchester Midnight Walk, sponsored by Addleshaw Goddard, is the charity’s iconic fundraiser which aims to make a significant contribution to the £9 million the region’s largest adult hospice needs every year to offer its wide range of services, of which only 35 per cent is received from Government funding.