Slaughters put skids under rivals in charity bonanza.Venerable it may be, but City giant Slaughter and May is quickest off the blocks, at least when it comes to dressing up like idiots and belting round a skating rink.

A team from the firm (pictured right) beat other solicitors, bankers, consultants and even media types to land the fastest team award at the annual City Ice Skate, which raises money for Sense, the charity for people who are both deaf and blind.

The fancy dress theme was Mystic Challenge after the cable television programme of the same name hosted by Paul Ross (pictured with both teams).

Last year's fastest team, Linklaters & Alliance, skated away with the coveted best fancy-dress prize (left).

The firms were sponsored to skate as many laps as possible in ten minutes and with donations from spectators, Sense hopes to raise 25,000 from the event.