BLUE skies and brilliant sunshine helped to make this year’s carnival walk a success for organisers Alison and Rob Harris-Dibben, raising £357.

Around 40 walkers gathered at The Deer’s Hut pub, at Griggs Green, ready to ramble. The three routes via Lynchmere and Stanley Common of eight, nine and 11-and-a-half miles were marked out by Rob in advance. Two entrants even decided to treat the route as a training circuit, running the whole way.

Katie Land of Findlay’s Florist won the main prize - a meal for two at the pub after getting the most sponsorship.

Rob said: “We were really lucky with the weather and the turn out of walkers. In future we’d like to encourage more runners wanting to use the routes as a training circuit as well as regular walkers.

“All participants were delighted with the pub’s hospitality and their breakfast of bacon butties, coffee and tea went down a treat. Proceeds were donated to the Carnival committee by the pub.

“Please come along and enjoy this year’s Carnival on Saturday, October 24, as well as the bonfire and fireworks displays at Radford Park, at 8.30pm.”