To mark World Mental Health Day on Friday, 10 October, North Herts & Stevenage Samaritans (also known as Hitchin Samaritans) held a Dawn Walk. Listening and Support Volunteers walked the streets of Hitchin at sunrise in solidarity with those struggling to cope.

Starting from the branch in Nuns close at 6.00am, they completed a 5km route, returning to the branch in time to watch the sunrise.

As a charity, Samaritans' ambition is that fewer people die by suicide. In the last year, the dedicated volunteers at Hitchin branch answered over 20,000 calls, spending around 5,500 hours on the phone. The branch has approximately 120 listening volunteers and is always striving to recruit more.

Anyone can contact Samaritans, free, any time from any phone on 116 123, or email [email protected] or visit www.samaritans.org