THOUSANDS of people stormed a castle yesterday to take part in one of the region's biggest outdoor events.

Starting and finishing at the Bishop of Durham's home, Auckland Castle, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, 4,000 walkers took part in the Traidcraft Great North Walk.

The eight-mile route guided walkers around the castle's grounds, through Bishop Auckland Market Place and across the River Wear.

Following a disused railway and the river, walkers visited Vinovia Roman Fort, at Binchester, near Spennymoor, then weaved their way through fields and woodland back to the castle.

For the first time in the walk's history, organisers Wear Valley District Council and Nova International devised a three-mile wheel-friendly route so dozens of wheelchair users and youngsters in pushchairs could join in.

Scores of charities benefited from the event as many walkers gathered sponsorship to support good causes.

North-West Durham MP Hilary Armstrong set the walkers off.

She said: "The walk is a very important event, as are the principles behind it.

"Exercise is something no-one else can do for you. The National Health Service can do so much for us, but we have a responsibility to our own bodies to look after them through healthy living and regular exercise.

"This event gets people together to enjoy keeping fit."

The Northern Echo was one of the sponsors through its Chance to Live campaign, which aims to combat heart disease by persuading people to eat well and take exercise.

Editor Peter Barron said: "This is the main event in the Chance To Live partnership with Wear Valley District Council, Durham Dales PCT and Northumbrian Water.

"We are delighted to be involved in the Great North Walk, it is a fantastic event in a fantastic location and it is great to see people getting out there and being healthy."

Although the event was not a race, there was a round of applause for the first man past the finishing line -57-year-old Trevor Stapleton, of Morpeth, Northumberland.

Mr Stapleton said: "It was very enjoyable, it was about my seventh Great North Walk and I think the most scenic, even better than Weardale.

"The setting was fantastic and the route takes in a bit of everything, the castle, river, Roman fort and open countryside were all nice."

* The Northern Echo will publish a free 16-page supplement on Wednesday featuring more pictures of the walk and a roll of honour of those who took part.

* Tyne Tees Television will broadcast a 30-minute programme about the walk on Sunday, August 22.