THOUSANDS of people have set off for Walk the Wight with Mountbatten today.

It's the perfect day for walking, forecast as sunny with a gentle breeze, with temperatures likely to stay at around 12 degrees all day.

The charity's flagship event includes the 26.5-mile main walk from Bembridge to The Needles, an eight-mile flat walk from Sandown to Newport and four-mile schools' walk.

Many participants were up at the crack of dawn to get to the starting line in good time.

Mountbatten chief executive Nigel Hartley, who is taking part in the flat walk said: “Every year I never fail to be inspired by everyone taking part. I have now completed the full walk four times and this will be the first time I’ve done the flat walk and I’m really looking forward to it.”

All the money raised goes to Mountbatten. See the below video by Mountbatten, taken this morning as the walk began.

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