A flurry of arms and legs propelled the beds along the city centre's Long Causeway on Saturday to raise money for the city's Sue Ryder Care Thorpe Hall Hospice.

Curious shoppers saw teams of six people, including a "patient", being pushed along the specially-designed, challenge-filled course, which took about 10 minutes to complete.

Thorpe Hall's own Absolute Angels were first off, and talked a good game before the start.

Sandra Rowe, who was doing her third push, said: "We are stalwarts of the push and we are going first, so we will probably make fools of ourselves while everyone else clocks on to how it's done, but we have a great team and it's always fun."

Mayor of Peterborough Marion Todd set the tone with a lively countdown to send Paul Beland, of Absolute Angels, off to negotiate a series of cones on a mini spacehopper before the team could set off.

The five-strong team from the hospice were joined by patient Lite FM DJ Keith Dalton, who was broadcasting live from the city centre.

The team then had to make up the bed before setting off to complete five challenges.

They included all the team blowing up balloons, moving through hula hoops, inflatable rings and a tunnel without them touching the floor, before finishing with a relay dressed in overalls and hard hats to much hilarity from the gathered crowds

After successfully completing the course, Angel Christine Lakey said: "I think we acquitted ourselves quite well really, and we managed the challenges. it was great fun."

A further 19 teams then took to the course over the day, which ran from 10am until 4pm ably marshalled by the 51 Orton Air Training Corps who were patrolling the sidelines and scores of volunteers with collection boxes.

Fund-raiser Jackie Page said: "We were delighted to raise £16,000 last year, but it's too early to tell how much we have raised this time round, although we are hoping to beat our target."

Cllr Todd said: "It's a very worthwhile charity which needs a lot of money to keep going. It's fantastic the work the staff do."

All money raised at the event will go towards patient care at the hospice.