A GROUP of early morning walkers were determined to make the longest day of the year exactly that - by stepping out at 4.30am.

As dawn broke, 21 people gathered for a five-mile walk in Teesdale, County Durham, to watch the sun rise and enjoy the beautiful early morning scenery.

Mo Dobbie, from Eggleston, arranges the annual walk, which begins and ends at Grassholme Reservoir, near Mickleton - taking in Selset Reservoir en route.

Yesterday saw the sixth annual summer solstice dawn chorus walk, which finished at 7am - just in time to enjoy a cooked breakfast at the reservoir tea rooms.

One walker makes the trip every year from Chester-le-Street, just to join in the early morning hike.

Another participant spent the walk collecting moths with a giant net.

Mrs Dobbie said: "It's the summer solstice and it's the longest day, so you want to make the longest day really the longest day, rather than just staying in bed.

"It was just magic and that is the reason we keep going."

The first walk attracted just 15 hardy souls. The highest number to take part so far is 41.

The walkers were joined by keen enthusiast Ian Moorhouse, who pointed out some of the many birds in the area, from the bird hide at Selset Reservoir.