GENEROUS staff at AirMiles raised more than £1,000 for charity after completing a lunchtime sponsored walk.

The travel company, which has been based in Birchwood Boulevard for six years, decided to do its bit for the national Children in Need fundraising day by organising a week of one-mile walks and a hat day.

Over 200 of its 350 staff joined in the walk and hat day, where everyone wore a hat to work. After AirMiles doubled the total, £1400 was raised.

Vicki Forster, head of operations, said: "A route around the perimeter of the Travel Centre in Birchwood was mapped out and groups of people were taken out by their team managers to clock up the miles. For each mile we walked, friends and family donated £1 to Children in Need. We ended up walking the distance from Manchester to Madrid."

As well as raising money the walk also helped staff bond with colleagues from other departments.

Vicki said: "We all work in different departments and are split between two buildings, so don't always have the chance to chat to each other.

"This walk proved a really good way for us to catch up with people we rarely see.

"It was also nice to get some fresh air and go out of the office during our lunch break, instead of just heading for the restaurant. It was a good laugh and we were all really delighted to get involved in such a worthy cause."