A team of mums and daughters completed a 10-mile midnight walk at the weekend to support an Abbots Langley man "loved by everybody".

With glowsticks and neon leggings at the ready, Bob’s Belles set Hemel Hempstead alight on Saturday night at The Hospice of St Francis’ ninth annual Midnight Walk, to support the care industrial roofer, Bob Miller, 56, from Fay Green, needs from the hospice after he was diagnosed with lung cancer last December.

Nearly 600 walkers set off from Hemel Hempstead School at 10pm, weaving through Boxmoor and Apsley to Gadebridge and Chaulden, and between them, look set to raise over £65,000 towards the £4.8million the Berkhamstead-based hospice needs every year to provide its free care for people across Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Bob’s Belles have so far raised over £1,350 for Mr Miller.

The group’s team leader, Beverly Ford, 51, from Bushey, said: "It was Bob’s wife Julie who asked if we knew about the Midnight Walk.

"When she suggested we get a group together, we all said yes immediately for the chance to do something for her and Bob as well as to look daft in pink bunny ears and have a giggle.

"I’ve known Bob 30 years and he’s so loved by everybody.

"We just want him and Julie to know we’re with them on their journey and we want to do anything we can to support the hospice, which does so much good work in our community.

"The walk was really good fun. There were lots of people cheering us on and it was great to see support from local people with beeping and waving from cars, residents coming outside and staying up into the early hours to support us.

"We never want to see the likes of Galley Hill or any more steps again but we’re delighted to have raised £1,350 so far with more to come."

Nicky Maxwell-Braithwaite, events fundraiser at the hospice, added: "The atmosphere was electrical and all our midnight walkers were just amazing.

"I want to say a huge thank you to every one of our walkers and 100-plus marshals and volunteers for giving up their time on a Saturday night and to all our kind sponsors who contributed in any way to help raise much-needed funds for the hospice and helping make it such a special night to remember."

To support Bob’s Belles, visit their Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/beverly-ford1/.