The Mayor of March smiled his way to a successful completion of the ice bucket challenge – joining the tens of thousands who have already done so.

Cambs Times: Ice Bucket Challenge. March market place. Cllr Jan French.Picture: Steve Williams.Ice Bucket Challenge. March market place. Cllr Jan French.Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

Councillor Kit Owen was ritually doused in ice cold water in March market place as part of a phenomenon that has spread across the globe.

Joining him to face the ice bucket challenge was fellow town and district councillor Jan French and John Elworthy, editor of the Cambs Times.

All three faced the cameras to nominate others to accept the challenge – and all three have pledged sums to various charities.

They were helped by deputy mayor Councillor Rob Skoulding who ‘auctioned off’ the right to douse both the mayor and Cllr French in water, adding a further £75 towards local charities.

Cambs Times: Ice Bucket Challenge. March market place. John Elworthy, Editor of the Cambs Times, Wisbech Standard and Ely Standard.Picture: Steve Williams.Ice Bucket Challenge. March market place. John Elworthy, Editor of the Cambs Times, Wisbech Standard and Ely Standard.Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

One of the successful ‘bidders’ was independent councillor Dave Patrick who travelled from Wisbech to ensure he won the right to tip water over two of his colleagues.

Much of the money raised nationally is in aid of Motor Neurone Disease Association but many other charities are benefitting too.

“Not as bad as I feared,” said Cllr Owen as he dried himself off and headed to nearby Paninis for a warming cappuccino.

Cllr French said it was “only a matter of time” before she was nominated as the icy water rained down on her.

Cambs Times: Ice Bucket Challenge. March market place. Mayor of March Cllr Kit Owen.Picture: Steve Williams.Ice Bucket Challenge. March market place. Mayor of March Cllr Kit Owen.Picture: Steve Williams. (Image: Archant)

A small crowd gathered to watch the trio meet their watery moments – our own editor discovering Cambs Times colleagues had suddenly appeared to enjoy the spectacle.

“The nearest you can get to a public flogging,” grinned one.

The BBC reported today there has been in excess of 2.4 million ice bucket-related videos posted on Facebook, and 28 million people have uploaded, commented on or liked ice bucket-related posts.