KINVER folk are being encouraged to put their best foot forward and help support this year’s South Staffordshire Council’s Walking Festival.

The festival runs until July 13 and this year the council want walkers to capture their efforts on film.

The council is running a photographic competition in conjunction with the walks.

Winning entries will be printed on canvass and presented to the successful photographer.

The walking festival is now in its seventh year and bigger than ever before with a number of additional walks added to the existing programme.

All the walks are absolutely free to take part in and range from a leisurely 30 minute stroll to longer and more challenging excursions.

Trained volunteers are on hand to lead the walks, while offering information and advice about the area at the same time.

The Walking Festival is backed by council leader Brian Edwards who said: “Walking is always underrated as a form of exercise, but is ideal for people of all ages and fitness levels who want to be more active.

“I’d encourage everyone to get out and about and take in some of the beautiful countryside we have in this district.

“Walking also has many health benefits as well. It’s one of the easiest ways to lose weight and has also been shown to reduce the risk of illness, such as heart disease, asthma, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

“The photography competition is a really good way of capturing what the district has to offer and I’m sure many amateur and professional photgraphers alike will take up this chance.”

Anyone who wants to submit an entry to the photographic competition should send their pictures to South Staffordshire Council, Council Offices, Wolverhampton Road, Codsall, WV8 1PX.

Details of the walks are available by visiting www.sstaffs.gov.uk/walking