WALKERS from all over the region shook off the shadow of foot-and-mouth disease at the weekend to raise £4,400 for health charities.

The 107 walkers took part in 14th annual trail from Frost-erley to Wolsingham, in Wear-dale, County Durham, which helped to boost the total raised by the event since it started to nearly £60,000.

"It has been a magnificent effort, bearing in mind that last year's walk had to be cancelled because of foot-and-mouth," said co-organiser Lin-da Nelson.

"This has always been a family affair with families from all over the regaion - and their dogs - taking part. Everybody has learned just to muck in. It's been a great team effort."

The final figure for Saturday's walk is likely to be much higher, because a lot of the sponsorship money still has to come in. Most of it will go towards helping with ME and cancer research.