COUNCILLORS and residents put their best foot forward to join in with a Bury Trail and Rail scheme.

A total of 86 walkers marched from Bolton Street Station in Bury to Nuttall Park in Ramsbottom.

They then hopped on the East Lancashire Railway to make the return journey.

The walk was the brainchild of I Will If You Will, the Bury-based fitness movement.

I Will If You Will is focused on changing women’s and girls’ behaviour towards taking part in sport and physical activity. The aim is to get more women and girls more active and help improve the health and wellbeing of people in Bury.

It aims to overcome the many practical and emotional barriers to being active, while encouraging women to support each other by joining the I Will If You Will community.

Walkers left Bolton Street Station at 11am following the Irwell River Trail up to Summerseat station before finishing at Nuttall Park. The walkers could then opt to return to Bury on the train for free from Summerseat or continue to Ramsbottom.

The Summerseat walk was 3.3 miles and those who carried on to Ramsbottom walked 4.6 miles.

Organisers are hoping that it will become an annual event.

Cllr Catherine Preston, deputy cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Bury Council, said: "Walking is one of the most easily accessible activities on offer in Bury and we're lucky to have so many green spaces to make the most of. The Trail and Rail was a huge success and I'd like to congratulate every walker who took on the trail, both to Summerseat and those who carried on to Ramsbottom."

To find out more about walking in Bury, visit: www.iwillifyouwill.co.uk/find-an-activity/a-z/Walking