BODY Shop workers in Swindon are taking part in a national relay race to help vulnerable children.

The route of the race, in aid of the Protect the Child charity, covers the length and breadth of the UK.

Teams of self-employed workers who run the Body Shop's home party scheme have each been allocated a stretch to cover.

Each team will hand over a message in a bottle to the next group of fundraisers.

The twist is that teams may use any form of transport they wish but it must be free of charge.

After receiving the message from their Witney colleagues, eight staff from Swindon will travel from the town centre to Chippenham on June 7.

They will be transported via a vintage bus, donated by Cross Country bus hire of Castle Eaton.

The message will then be handed over to another team, who will take it to Bristol.

The Swindon workers are also organising a fundraising fashion show, which will be held at the Blunsdon House Hotel in Blunsdon on June 22.

For further details about either event, or to offer sponsorship, call Sarah Stones, senior area manager of Body Shop at Home, on Swindon 612838.