WALKERS from across Oxfordshire showed they could hack it for charity.

They descended on Cornbury Park near Charlbury to join the Hike Against Cruelty to Kids, known as Hack.

Some 200 people took part in one of two walks – either 22-miles or 12-miles – which raised funds for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).

Rachael Fox, from Chippenham, walked the full distance.

The 21-year-old said: “The Hack was the first time I had ever done anything like that. I am definitely hurting. The cause is just amazing.”

Jason Dean, 41, from Wokingham, who completed the full walk in nine hours, said: “I am very sore but the weather was good and the cause is one I am more than happy to support.”

Organiser Amanda Howard, from Lidstone near Chipping Norton, said: “The number of people is up. This year we have a shorter route which is attracting more people.

“We’ve had a huge range of people, we have had teams of friends, 60-year-olds and 18-year-olds and people who have never done anything like this before.

“This cause affects every community but the services have to be paid for. I have had three new people say they want to do more and that is almost more valuable than the fundraising.”

It can take as long as 12 hours to complete the long route, with walkers getting under way at 7.30am on Saturday morning.

Organisers turned up at 4.30am to make bacon rolls for the army cadets who camped out overnight to help stage the Hack.

The Cotswolds Hack was the last of many walks which take place across the country in September. This was the second year it had been held.

The route, which goes in a figure of eight with Cornbury at its centre, featured check points to make sure no one got lost and several tea rooms to keep the participants going.

Walkers took a scenic route around the Cotswolds, including Wychwood Forest, Spelsbury and Ditchley Park as well as a Roman villa near Stonesfield.

Tony Ford, who gave the participants a safety briefing before they left, works at Hack events around the country. He said: “I think the Cotswold Hack is a particularly good one.

“The atmosphere was really great. Often with these sort of events you get a really good atmosphere.

“Hacks people are really up for it.” Mr Ford, who runs an outdoor safety company, tested the route out personally before giving it the thumbs up.

Last year it raised £21,340 which went towards the NSPCC’s work with children and families, as well as funding ChildLine. This year organisers are hoping to raise between £25,000 and £30,000.

Nationally the eight Hacks raised £220,000.