MILITARY personnel marched their way to London raising more than £2,000 for charity.

Staff from Colchester's Military Corrective Training Centre marched 56 miles from their base to the Tower of London in one day.

The team of 16, including soldiers, sailors and airmen, supported by a team of helpers travelled across Essex and East London in 18 hours and 42 minutes.

The more than two marathon length marches were completed with tremendous public support.

A spokesman for the centre said: "Morale was extremely high throughout the day and the support from the general public along the way was amazing.

"The aim was to raise money for the Royal British Legion and they had already raised in excess of £2,000 in donations before their departure.

"With the wonderful generosity of the public a further £738.57 was raised en route by rattling buckets."

The Berechurch Hall Road facility provides corrective training for servicemen and women sentenced to periods of detention after breaching rules.

It is staffed by personnel from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.

Training included 6am practice marches before the main event earlier this month.

Team member Sgt Emma Watson said: "It's was incredibly hard work but well worth it.

"We are extremely grateful to everyone who has supported us, so a huge thank you to anyone who made a donation, it all adds up and has made the training and the event itself all that more bearable."

Along the way the team enjoyed several scheduled stops.

D's Diner in Hatfield Peverel supplied them with bacon butties and tea with top ups at the Black Bull in Margaretting and the Golden Fleece in Brentwood.

The team were welcomed into London by ten Royal British Legion Standard Bearers at Aldgate who then marched with them to the tower.

A spokesman said: "Despite a few ‘magnificent’ blisters amongst the team, as a result of their hard effort everyone completed the march in one piece."

To sponsor the team visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/MCTC01