Community groups joined together to walk out against knife crime.

Chigwell Tours and Rotary Club Loughton, Buckhurst Hill and Chigwell strode through Hainault Forest for the third annual fundraising 10km.

The walk raised funds and awareness of the Flavasum Trust, which supports families in Ilford, Barking and Dagenham affected by knife crime.

They also collected cash for south London charity Another Night of Sisterhood, a charity that helps mothers and sisters whose sons and brothers have been stabbed to death.

Speaking after the walk, Salome Ahenkora, managing director of Chigwell Tours, said: “This type of crime gets much media coverage but, little is known about the innocent mothers and siblings whose lives are impacted for many years and they receive little or no coverage.

"This was our motivation for the walk.

"We wanted to contribute to any support which the charity provides.

"We believe this was a timely and important cause to support.”

In 2016, the joint event provided families with disabled children in Epping Forest District and Barnardos Children Home in Redbridge with a day out to Southend on Sea.