STAFF at a high-tech Malvern company have joined in the latest fundraising craze by dousing each other with ice-cold water.

The "ice-bucket challenge" has become an internet sensation, with famous faces ranging from screen stars to a former US president getting soaking wet for a good cause - in this country the fight against motor neurone disease.

So for staff at Smartbox Assistive Technology , based at Barnards Green, taking part was a no-brainer , since their work brings them in to contact with people with motor neurone disease on a continual basis.

Dougal Hawes, the company's business development director, said: "Our technology enables somebody that has no physical movement to control a computer with their eyes. This means they can write messages to talk, send emails or SMS messages, go online and generally stay in touch with family and friends.

"As a result, we work with many people who have motor neurone disease who benefit from our technology, and so we know the problems they have.

"Taking part in it is a bit uncomfortable, but it's a brilliant campaign to raise awareness of an awful disease, and staff have really done us proud by taking part."

He said he dis not know how much had been raised, because individual staff members took care of their own fundraising, but they have contributed towards more than £1,190,000 raised so far in total.

And he urged people to support the cause, by visiting justgiving.com/icebucket4mnd or texting ICED55 (amount) to 70070.