Bean counters at a Theale firm made sure it was a numbers game when they handed over £1,700 to a children’s charity.

Members of the three relay teams at KPMG presented the cheque to children’s communication charity I CAN after they raised the funds from Reading Half Marathon.

David Bourne, senior manager at KPMG Reading, said: “I’m delighted that the hard work and dedication of the staff at KPMG Reading, who in some cases were racing for the first time, have been able to raise this substantial amount of money for this fantastic cause.”

Collecting the cheque on behalf of I CAN, senior community and events fundraiser Nina Dawes said: “This money will be going towards I CAN’s valuable work to support the development of children’s speech and language, ensuring that awareness of this issue continues to rise.”

Research shows that in some areas of the UK 40 to 50 per cent of children starting primary school do not have basic speech and language skills they need to learn and make friends.