YOUNG walkers in Horton have helped kickstart the village’s first ever walking festival, which takes place this weekend.

Every pupil at Horton Primary School put their best foot forward to celebrate the forthcoming three-day family festival which will raise money for Horton and Little Sodbury Village Hall.

Organiser Carol Brodie said the idea of the walking festival, which will involve a number of routes for varying abilities as well as events and talks, was to stage something everyone could enjoy.

She said: "We were looking at what fundraising events we could organise for the village hall which is home to our community youth facilities.

"We wanted a different way of raising funds that would involve local organisations and would be firmly based in Horton. And of course getting the school involved is lovely."

The festival takes place on Friday, April 27 to Sunday, April 29 with numerous walks each day including a walk to health put on by South Gloucestershire Council (Friday 10.30am), a run for fun led by Hogweed Trotters (Saturday 9.45am), a walk to Dyrham Park (Sunday 9am) and family walks with Cotswold wardens (Sunday 11am and 2pm). Refreshments will be available each day.

There will also be talks including trekking in Nepal (Friday 7.45pm) and a photography workshop (Friday and Sunday 10am-1pm and 2-5pm), both at the village hall. Horton Court will open especially for the festival on Sunday (10am-3.30pm) and there will be a pub quiz at Horton Social Club on Saturday (7.30pm).

Most walks will start and finish at the village hall but visit www.halsvh.org.uk or call 01454 312277 for details and to see the full list of walks.

Added Mrs Brodie: "We don’t think there is another walking festival like this in the area so we are hoping it will be well received and it could then become an annual event."