PEOPLE with a zest for outdoor exercise are invited to take part in Redcar and Cleveland Council's fifth annual Walking and Cycling Festival, next month.

The festival opens with a welcome evening on Friday, June 17, including two free walks around the Guisborough area, a four-and- a-half-mile walk, starting at 6.30pm and a three-mile walk, starting at 7pm.

Booking is essential and on a first-come, first-served basis, with a closing date of Friday, June 3.

The cost of each walk or ride is £3, with under-16s at £2, apart from the Chop Gate Challenge, which is £4 and £2. The Saturday night barbecue and entertainment is £7.50, under 16s, £4.

The weekend timetable is: Saturday, June 18 - five-mile Liverton Loop, from 10.30am to 2pm, nine-mile Park Wood walk, 10am to 3pm, 11-mile tour of Guisborough Woods, 10am to 3pm, 14-mile Cliff Ridge and Roseberry Topping, 9am to 3pm, two-hour family bike ride, 9.30am start, three-hour forest bash bike ride, 1pm start. Sunday, June 19 - four-mile Eston Hills History Walk, 1pm to 3.30pm, 12-mile Captain Cook circular, 9.30am to 3pm, 13-mile Chop Gate Challenge, 9am to 3.30pm, 14-mile Three Peaks Circular, 9.30am to 3.30pm, 30-mile Moorland Trek bike ride, 9am to 3.30pm.

The Saturday evening entertainment includes local folk band, The Scratch Band, and a fundraising raffle for the Cleveland Search and Rescue, who will be on standby for the weekend.

For a booking form, contact countryside warden Neil Thirkell on 01287 622408 or log on to www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk