Residents of the town of Wunsiedel in Bavaria, Germany, claimed a "great response" Tuesday for an unusual method of challenging neonazism.

Wunsiedel was the burial place of Hitler's deputy Rudolf Hess, rapidly becoming a neo-nazi shrine after his 1987 burial.

His remains were exhumed and ashes scattered at sea in 2011 but the neonazi thugs' annual pilgrimages continued.

After failing in efforts to prevent them, the town got residents and businesses to donate €10 (£8) for every metre the nazis walked - with proceeds going to Exit Deutschland, a group that helps rehabilitate and protect former fascists who reject the far-right.

Signs with information on how to confidentially contact the charity were posted along the route alerting the embarrassed fascists to the outcome of their march.

Over €10,000 (£8,000) was raised, town spokeswoman Inge Schuster said yesterday, after the proceeds from Saturday's march had been tallied up.