RADCLIFFE East councillor Catherine Berry will be putting her best foot forward to raise money for charity.

The 33-year-old is already in training for a sponsored walk set to take place later this year.

She will be joined by fellow Conservative councillors Yvonne Wright, Denise Bigg, and Michael Hankey, along with Iona Worthington, whose husband Keith is chairman of the Bury North Conservatives.

The group will tackle either a five-mile or ten-mile walk on September 7 at Chorlton Water Park, in Manchester.

They plan to raise money for Animals Asia, an animal welfare charity which aims to stop cruelty to animals in the region.

Dave Neale, the charity's UK director, visited Bury Town Hall last week to tell the walkers about how the money will be spent.

Coun Berry said: "I want to raise awareness about the horrific way cats, dogs and bears are treated in China and Vietnam. Cats and dogs are boiled and skinned alive for their meat and fur, and bears are kept in cages and have their bile extracted for healthy' Chinese remedies. This is barbaric and I am trying to raise as much money as I can by taking part in the walk.

"I am very much looking forward to the walk, especially now that I have seen the plight of the animals. I have a cat of my own and I can't understand how people could be cruel to them. It's important to let people know that animals have feelings and shouldn't be treated in this way."

Coun Berry has already started training for the event and spends every lunchtime walking in a park with work colleagues.

She now hopes that other people will join the walk to show their support for the charity.

She said: "Animals need people to help them and by taking part in the walk or sponsoring a walker, it will really make a difference. I feel very strongly about this. We need to do something to help."

Anyone wishing to find out more about the walk can visit www.animalsasia.org Coun Berry is also looking for people to sponsor her to do the walk. She can be contacted on 07949 866680 or by emailing c.berry@bury.gov.uk.