Miserable weather failed to deter nearly 100 participants from a ten-kilometre charity walk in Cassiobury Park this afternoon.

The Great Watford Walk went ahead on a wet and windy afternoon, raising money for three major Watford charities – The Peace Hospice, Watford Mencap and the Watford New Hope Trust.

Organised by pharmaceuticals company Sigma, the event, formerly named the Big Herts Walk, has raised more than £85,000 for the charities over the past five years through corporate and participant sponsorship.

About 180 people had signed up for today's walk and, despite awful conditions, more than half came out to take on the challenge in the rain.

Organiser Bharat Shah, of Sigma, said: “It just shows the commitment of everyone and that we are obviously doing something right.

“We wanted to help out charities in Watford and encourage them to work together. This is usually money they would be competing for but we are able to raise the money and split it evenly between them.”

Richard Harrington, MP for Watford, dropped in to start the walkers off on his way to the Conservative party conference.

He said: “It is a great shame the weather could not have been better but these are three great charities and it is good to see they are well supported.”

Headteacher of Stanborough School, in Garston, Kathleen Hansen, along with a few students, was not put off by the rain and said she was glad to be supporting the event.

She said: “Last year we won the award for raising the most money and hopefully, even if people haven't made it out in the rain, they will collect donations. As a school we like to support charities and these are very worthwhile.”