A TEAM of volunteers have signed up for the annual Samaritans National Walk.

The group of 26 people from Colchester Samaritans, based at Walshingham Road, will be heading down to Cornwall to take on either 13 or 26 mile distances on June 11.

There will be more supporters from the Colchester branch than any other of the 201 Samaritan centres nationwide, who will take in stunning views of Mounts Bay, St Michael's Mount and the coast of St Ives.

Sponsorship money will be collected to raise much-needed funds for the Samaritans, and the annual event usually attracts several hundreds of people.

Colchester Samaritans branch director Carol Almond said she was delighted so many people had come forward to take part.

She said: We’ve have a wonderful turnout of people willing to represent Colchester at the National Samaritans Walk, and donations and sponsorship monies for their efforts will be truly welcome.

“We have a very active walking group drawn from our volunteers. TV and radio presenter Clare Balding joined us recently to record an episode of her Ramblings programme for BBC Radio 4 whilst walking around Bures."

Next year's walk will be held in Colchester on June 10 2017, and Ms Almond is delighted to be welcoming hundreds of people to the town.

She said: " The walk will start and finish on Mersea Island.

"Planning for the walk has already begun, with some interesting routing which involves ferrying people across the River Colne.”

To sponsor the group for this year's event visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ColSamsWalkers, or the Colchester Samaritans website at samaritans.org/colchester.