OVER 40 keen walkers, with and without dogs, took part in Home-Start’s annual Dog Walk to raise £600 for the family support charity.

Two walks departed - one long and one short - striding through countryside around Itchen Abbas and walkers were welcomed back to Itchen Abbas Village Hall to mugs of hot soup, a plentiful ploughman’s lunch and chocolate fudge brownies.

The walk began immediately after a downpour and a hail storm followed at lunchtime but in between the sun shone and the countryside looked at its best.

Charity chairman Liz Cooper thanked the soup makers and helpers, paying special thanks to walk sponsors Gay Dog Boarding Kennels for their continued support. “This is always such a fun day and we’ve have never had to cancel a walk yet because of the weather – they’re such a healthy bunch and never seem phased by the conditions.”

Walk sponsors Mel and Paul Bliss, son Daniel and their Labrador Nina enjoyed the walk too. Said Mel: “We feel rather honoured to support such a community-based and meaningful initiative and are very happy to be sponsoring Home-Start again.” Gay Dog Boarding Kennels based at Bradley near Alresford is about to embark on a huge construction project to replace the kennels and cattery which opened in 1961, building new and bespoke kennels to meet today’s standards.