"We're strong, we're powerful, we're magnificent" chanted the barefoot volunteers, the first people in Colchester to attempt a firewalk.

Minutes later they proved it, walking one by one across wood embers which would normally melt their feet. And they did not suffer so much as a blister.

Sunday night's event at Colchester Rugby Club raised thousands of pounds for the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre (MSRC), a national charity based in the town.

Lawrence Wood, chief executive of MSRC, is pictured making the first firewalk.

Picture: ADRIAN RUSHTON

By James Tute

Reporter's e-mail: james_tute@thisisessex.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.