16218MEMBERS of Devizes PHAB Club braved the elements on Saturday to take part in their 22nd annual wheelchair push and walk.

As the heavens opened and the rain hammered down, members and friends resolutely completed two laps of the route from the Nursteed Centre, round the town and back again.

Sending off the intrepid wheelchair entrants were the chairman of National PHAB Donald Brims who, with his wife Judi, judged the competitions for the best fancy dress and best fancy hat.

Newly-elected Devizes mayor Peter Evans also helped judge the competition.

Several entrants wore black plastic bags over their costumes and some carried umbrellas to ward off the worst of the rain.

An unexpected addition to the event was the support of retained firefighters from Devizes Fire Station who came to push wheelchairs but brought their fire engine along in case they had a "shout" while they were there.

In the fancy dress contest, the winner was Pat Putland as the Supermarket Old Bag, with Pat Bird as a clown in second place and Les Waller as Nat Elf in third place.

The fancy hat competition was won by Joan Aldridge with The Gainsborough Lady, with Margaret Stickley's Springtime second and Ruth Gane's Butterfly Garden third.

It is expected that the event will have raised £1,700 for PHAB and another £250 for other charities in the area.

Sponsorship can still be accepted and anyone wishing to contribute should contact organiser Michael Braund on (01380) 870274.