The engage Mutual Midnight Walk, which starts and finishes at St Aidan's School, Oatlands Drive on Saturday, will follow a quarter marathon route around Harrogate.

Registration is from 10.45pm and a giant group warm-up session will get the walkers raring to go before the countdown to midnight begins.

In return for a pledge to raise as much sponsorship money for their local hospice as possible, every walker will receive a Midnight Walk T-shirt, a goody-filled 'bag for life' and a certificate.

Tony Collins, chief executive of Saint Michael's, said: "Because the walk is open to all ages and abilities, a wide mix of people have been able to take part: individual walkers, whole families and several teams.

"It really is an event for the whole community.

"Last year, those who were out on the town during the walk stopped to clap and cheer our walkers on, and I hope we can expect the same support this year."

The hospice hopes to surpass last year's fundraising total of £114,000, he added.

Leading the throng of 1,200 walkers will be Vicky Locklin, presenter of ITV Yorkshire's Calendar programme, and the engage Mutual Assurance team, title sponsors of the event.

Sponsorship manager Tina Clare said: "I can't wait to take part on Saturday and being at the front we're hoping to set a good pace!"

The walk is expected to take between two and four hours, but organisers say the most important thing is that walkers have fun and are safe.

A team of volunteers will marshal the route and there will be first aid cover throughout the night.

All sponsorship raised by participants will go directly towards offering quality end of life care to local people in need.

Saint Michael's, serving the communities of Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge and Wetherby areas, needs £2.2 million annually to continue its work. It makes no charge for its services.

l For more information about the Midnight Walk, call Saint Michael's on 01423 869786 or visit www.midnight-walk.org

l Don't miss next week's paper for our selection of Midnight Walk pictures