A BOOKER Prize-winning novelist and her daughter were among those who braved burning embers to raise money for charity.

Pat Barker, 66, and daughter Anna Ralph, 35, were part of a crowd of about 30 who walked barefoot across 20ft of embers in Durham Market Place, in aid of St Cuthbert’s Hospice, in Durham, on Wednesday night.

The pair took on the challenge in memory of Mrs Barker’s late husband David, a former emeritus professor of zoology at Durham University, who died in January.

The fundraising evening began with a motivational talk, before participants lined up for the terrifying trek.

Mrs Barker, who won the 1995 Booker Prize for The Ghost Road, said: "I was scared before I went into the talk and a little scared in the queue waiting to do the firewalk but it was amazing.

"It is an experience I will definitely take forward with me into life."

Speaking of her late husband, Mrs Barker said: "I think he would have been very proud of us or else thought we were mad."

It is hoped the firewalk will have raised more than £4,000.

Rachel Jobson, from St Cuthbert’s Hospice, said: "We are a small fundraising team and we have to raise over £4,000 every single day in order to continue our special kind of care.

"To have raised this figure in one event is a fantastic achievement, so we are extremely grateful to all of our brave firewalkers."