A PHOTOGRAPHER stayed up for 34 hours while taking part in a charity photo marathon.

Michelle Szpak took 376 images of visitors to her studio in Letchworth GC in 26 hours to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Held last weekend from midday on the Saturday to 2.38pm the following day, Michelle received donations totalling �846 – the second highest amount raised among more than 20 studios across the UK taking part in the Great Big Portrait Marathon.

“It was absolutely exhausting but it was buzzing as well,” said Michelle, who due to work commitments before and afterwards was awake for 34 hours in total.

“I had a group turn up at 3.30am coming home from a 21st birthday party so that kept me going – I saw them when they were going out and asked them to come back and they did. I’m really pleased as we did really well and raised quite a lot of money.”

Despite the long hours, Michelle has already committed herself to take part next year, in what is likely to become an annual event for the UK cancer charity.