A WALKING the Way to Health initiative, which aims to get more people walking in their communities, is being launched in Middlesbrough and Eston.

The Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland branch of the initiative has set up groups of healthy walkers in North Ormesby, Hemlington, Coulby Newham, Guisborough, Saltburn and Redcar.

The latest scheme - Abingdon Road Health Walks - is being launched at SureStart at Abingdon Road, Middlesbrough, on Monday.

Walkers are invited to meet at 10am for a stroll around Albert Park.

Don Burluraux, health walks co-ordinator for Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust, helped to set up the initial scheme.

He said: "The social aspect of health walking is just as beneficial as the physical exercise."