Fifty dog walkers strode out into the countryside between Alton and Alresford this month to raise funds for family support charity Home-Start Winchester.

Dogs of all shapes and sizes took part, from tiny Yorkshire terriers to a Doberman and, despite lowering skies, they took off full of beans to tackle walks of two different lengths. 

The short walk arrived back at base unscathed but the long walkers arrived drenched to the skin as the clouds opened half a mile from home.

Organiser Chrissie Barlow said: “It was just as well we had mugs of hot soup waiting back at Bighton Village Hall. However dog walkers are a tough breed and as we were all glowing with the exercise we dried off quickly.”

Sponsor Dan Bliss joined in with his lurcher Cody and some colleagues from Gay Dog Boarding Kennels at Bradley.

Dan, whose family business has been involved with the walk since 2018, said: “It’s always a good excuse for a different walk as Home-Start rings the changes every year.”

The £750 raised will support the charity’s work in and around the city of Winchester, where Home-Start supports some 85 families each week, either in their own homes or at their five family groups and drop-in centres.

Home-Start Winchester chair Stephanie Durrant, who called in for a well-earned ploughman’s and a mug of soup, said: “Every charity is finding life tough at the moment. What you have raised today will go towards our work with families in the area in the coming year.”