A FUN treasure hunt to raise money for two charities has been hailed as a great success.

Basingstoke Mencap and Basingstoke and District Disability Forum (BDDF) hosted the “Basingstoke Roll” event at the Top of The Town.

Nine teams, including staff from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Basing View-based Great Guns Marketing and supermarket chains, Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s all took part – raising £1,500 which will be split between the two charities.

Volunteers and members from Basingstoke Mencap handed out clues to nine teams making their way around the treasure hunt course, which started at the back of Debenhams, in Festival Place, continued up to the Top of The Town, went round War Memorial Park and finished at the starting point.

A member from each team had to be in a wheelchair, which was donated by Basingstoke Shopmobility, at all times around the course to let them experience what accessibility is like in the town centre for wheelchair users.

The first team to cross the finish line was from the Tesco supermarket, who completed the course in just 40 minutes, winning four one-month premier memberships for the Basing-stoke Sports Centre, in Festival Place.

The Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council team won a free one-month membership for boot camps provided by the Fitness Experts after being awarded the “best costume” prize. They dressed up as Mexicans, donning moustaches and ponchos.

A three-course Sunday dinner was also awarded to the May Club, a social club based at The Vyne Community School for people with learning disabilities, after they won the “best decorated wheelchair” award for their flowery creation.

A special “most photographed” award also went to Jason Phillips from the Asda team, who won a £50 voucher for Box Hairdressing, in Church Street after he dressed up as Elvis Presley.

Catherine Mole, office and development manager at Basingstoke Mencap said: “All the money raised for Basingstoke Mencap will be used for our project ‘ASPIRE’ which is about getting young people employed.”