HUNDREDS of competitors have raised tens of thousands of pounds by taking part in Suffolk’s toughest charity event.

The Whole Hog assault course event at Wantisden Valley yesterday attracted 400 entrants who got filthy and soaked to the skin in stagnant water.

But charities across the county should be in for a bumper pay-day as sponsorship cash comes rolling in.

Ian Loombe, one of the organisers of the event, said: “Last year we had 270 people taking part and they ended up raising about �50,000. It will take some time to get all the money in but with the number of competitors going up by 130 we hope to get much more eventually.”

The course was 12 kilometres long, through bogs and other obstacles, and was tackled by teams of three raising money for their individual charities.

Mr Loombe said: “The fastest groups completed the course in just over an hour. The last ones finished in just under three hours.

“A few people dropped out and a few others avoided some of the obstacles, but most completed the whole hog!”

Among those who completed the course was a team of nine army wives from Rock Barracks whose husbands are currently serving in Afghanistan. One of them, Toni Pearson, said: “We are very proud of our husbands and we wanted to do something that would make them proud of us.

“This was a great day and while we don’t know exactly how much we will raise it should run into thousands among the nine of us.

“It was tough but we all completed it. Some of us have taken the dogs out for a walk this afternoon!”

She was delighted that her team had been the first of their three to complete the course –“Even though we were the veterans,” she said.

The weather conditions were bad at times: “It was pretty nasty, especially when it started hailing on us but we kept going,” said Mrs Pearson.

After a good bath they were all heading out for a meal to celebrate their success in the event.