A PROCESSION of students in fancy dress brought Westbury to a standstill on Friday morning as Matravers School held its annual sponsored walk.

Nearly 850 pupils completed the eight-mile round trip to West Wilts Golf Club in Warminster and were rewarded with the rest of the day off school.

Years 7 to 10, and years 12 and 13 students all took part in the walk while year 11 staged their own sponsored conga up to the White Horse.

All funds raised will go to the Dorothy House hospice and provide more seating for the school hall and better ICT facilities.

Deputy head and organiser Steve Clark said: "We are promised £7,500. That's about £1,000 more than we've done in the past.

"If it all comes in that will be wonderful."

On leaving the school in Springfield Road, the walkers crossed Warminster Road and headed up to Leighton Recreation Centre.

From there the route became cross-country along the Imber path to the golf course before they returned the same way.

Mr Clark said: "The route is about eight miles, but no one has actually measured it.

"Some of them ran it and completed the course in 1hr 20m to 1hr 30m, but others took closer to four hours.