WINCHESTER dog walkers have put their best paws forward to raise over £500 for charity.

Around 50 walkers, donning wellies and waterproofs, strode through the spring sunshine around Old Alresford for Home-Start charity.

The group later indulged in a ploughman’s lunch at the old barn at Pinglestone Farm, courtesy of the charity’s patron Alison Wakeham, who also planned the routes.

Home-Start’s Winchester chair, Liz Cooper, said: “This annual event is very much part of our fund-raising calendar. It is vital that we raise funds to support our families year round and what could be better than a healthy walk in the beautiful countryside to both raise funds and our spirits after the wet and gloomy winter.”

The local charity provides friendship and emotional and practical support to parents with young children.