A CRAZE taking social media by storm to raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease has arrived in Swindon.

The ice bucket challenge has seen millions of people, from every day folk to A-list celebrities, pour a bucket of ice cold water over their head to raise money for charity.

Videos have been appearing on social media in recent weeks, including ones from former US President George W Bush and the Beckham family.

Once people have done the task they nominate others. The craze took off in the United States as people looked to increase awareness of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Motor Neurone Disease.

Since it went viral, millions of pounds have been raised in the UK for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

At the weekend, it was the turn of the sales staff at Skurray’s Vauxhall in Swindon – and their nomination came from an unlikely source.

Sales manager Steve Hammill, one of the nine staff members who took part, said: “Everyone has seen loads of videos on Facebook these last few weeks so we decided to get involved to raise some money.

“We are quite active on Facebook, so on Saturday morning we put a picture of my one-year-old daughter, Ella, up on our page nominating us all to do it.

“All the lads have donated something to the pot and the owner has said he will double whatever we raise so we’ll have raised more than £100.

“We’ve nominated the Service and Parts department as well as the sales team in Oxford so hopefully between us we can get quite a big amount.”

There were a few nerves beforehand but everyone went through with it.

Steve said: “I didn’t know that much about Motor Neurone Disease before this all took off.

“When you see the millions of people that have now done the ice bucket challenge it has definitely worked.”

Before the challenge became a worldwide phenomenon, Swindon Council was leading the way in helping those with the disease.

In July it become one of the first local authorities to adopt the MND charter which identifies the importance of ensuring sufferers have adequate care.