A GROUP promoting walking as a way of keeping healthy has won a national award.

Hambleton Strollers has been awarded three hearts in the Quality Mark Accreditation scheme, part of the Walking the Way to Health Initiative run by the Countryside Agency and the British Heart Foundation.

Three hearts, the highest rating, has been achieved by only 38 groups in Britain.

It recognises that the scheme has reached the highest standards in the way it organises events and promotes walking to improve heart and general health.

The quality mark also recognises community partnerships that have been built locally, especially with health professionals.

Hambleton Strollers was set up last year in Northallerton and has 200 regular members who walk in Northallerton, Bedale, Stokesley, Hutton Rudby, Swainby, Easingwold and Thirsk.

Seventeen walks a month are organised.

More than 400 people in the district have been on a walk, many join in twice a month and others as many as six times.

Dave Goodwin, chairman of the Strollers steering group, said: "This is a wonderful achievement for a group that is only 18 months old."

To reach three-heart level, the group had to prove that it was safe, building community partnerships, promoting walking for health, working with medical professionals and running social activities.

The certificate is valid for three years, but walkers from the Walking the Way to Health Initiative could pay a visit to check that standards are being maintained.

Anyone interested in joining Hambleton Strollers can pick up a leaflet in libraries, doctors' surgeries and leisure and tourist information centres.