Staff and residents at a New Forest care home have raised almost £600 for charity by walking a total of 44 miles.

People taking part in a charity challenge staged by Sway Place put their best foot forward to help Dementia UK - and smashed their original 30-mile target.

Set in five acres of grounds, the home at Church Lane, Sway, is run by Care UK.

Pensioners, family members, and people who work at the home walked a mile a day to raise funds for dementia research and raise awareness of the condition.

They were joined by members of the Nordic Walking Brockenhurst group, with everyone exceeding their original target.

Daily Echo: Staff and residents at Care UK have raised almost £600 for Dementia UKStaff and residents at Care UK have raised almost £600 for Dementia UK (Image: Care UK)

The home raised £295 and Care UK donated an identical amount, taking the total raised to £590.

One of the residents, Shirley Crampton, 90, said: "It was fabulous to see everyone come together to walk the beautiful grounds, while having a chat and enjoying lots of laughter along the way.

"This was a challenge we all wanted to take part in while raising awareness and funds for a charity close to our hearts."

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Laura Blake, home admissions advisor at Sway Place, added: "It was fantastic to see all the residents, family and team members encouraging each other to complete the challenge.

"The amount raised surpassed all our expectations.

"We love supporting charities close to our hearts by raising funds in enjoyable ways. Walking is a great way to stay fit and active, especially when the steps are for a good cause.

"We are thrilled to be supporting Dementia UK so they can continue to provide support for those affected.

"I’d like to thank the Nordic Walking Brockenhurst group for joining us throughout the challenge. We look forward to doing more charity fundraisers in the future."

Daily Echo: Staff and residents at Sway Place have raised almost £600 for Care UKStaff and residents at Sway Place have raised almost £600 for Care UK (Image: Care UK)

Rated "Outstanding" by the Care Quality Commission, Sway Place offers full-time residential, respite and dementia care.

More than 944,000 UK residents are living with dementia - an umbrella term for a range of progressive disorders affecting the brain. It affects one in every 11 people over the age of 65.

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The number of sufferers is increasing because people are living longer, which means they are more likely to develop the condition.

Dementia UK provides life-changing support and advice to those affected.

A spokesperson said: "Every three minutes, someone in the UK develops dementia - it's one of the biggest health challenges of our time."