Ben Roden (left) of Mr Fothergill's has raised more than £1000 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society by walking over burning coals at an Ipswich, Suffolk, hotel.

He was one of 19 people, including the town's member of Parliament Ben Gummer (right), who undertook the Firewalk Challenge at the Belstead Brook Hotel, raising a total of more than £8000.

Twenty-seven-year-old Ben, who was diagnosed with the illness in 2010, made the 20ft walk across hot coals of more than 1200°F. “It was really good! I'd love to do it again, “ Ben said. “The Firewalk was one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences." Colleagues at Mr Fothergill's contributed more than £750 to Ben's total.

Half of the £8000 raised will go to the Multiple Sclerosis Society's national research programme, while the remainder will be spent on grants and support for local people living with the condition. More than 100,000 people in the UK have MS, with most being diagnosed in their 20s or 30s.

For more information log on at www.msscociety.org.uk

Picture: Ben Roden (left) and Ben Gummer MP