ORGANISERS of The Great North Walk yesterday called on people to get ready for a great day out.

At an upbeat launch at Wolsingham Town Hall yesterday, details were released of this year's Great North Walk.

A collaboration of local authorities, the NHS, private business and Government-backed agencies, this year's walk will inspire people across the region to start walking their way back to health.

As usual, the event is held under the banner of The Northern Echo's health campaign A Chance To Live.

Launched to demand a better deal for heart patients, the campaign now urges people to help themselves by taking more exercise and eating more healthily.

The Great North Walk has become as much a part of the North-East calendar as its more strenuous older brother, The Great North Run, and more than 4,000 people took part last year.

This year's event, which will take place on Sunday, July 10, will return to the route of the first walk in 2000.

Participants will start and finish in the picturesque County Durham town of Wolsingham, in Weardale, and will complete a scenic eight-mile route.

Organised as usual by Wear Valley District Council with Nova International, the event will be known for the first time as the British Heart Foundation Great North Walk.

This follows the decision by the nation's number one heart charity to sponsor the event.

At yesterday's launch, Tony Doveston, the foundation's regional director, said: "We are thrilled to be the official charity to sponsor this event.

"The heart foundation prides itself in its work to promote healthy initiatives.

"It is also rather wonderful that we are also going to be the main beneficiary."

Wear Valley District Council leader Councillor Olive Brown said: "The recent White Paper on health stressed the need for local authorities and primary care trusts to work together to promote physical activity. The Great North Walk is an example of joined-up government in this part of County Durham."

Peter Barron, the editor of The Northern Echo, said: "Our campaign is growing and getting stronger. We can all be very proud about that."

The Great North Walk is a partnership between Wear Valley District Council, Durham Dales Primary Care Trust, The Northern Echo, Northumbrian Water and Sport England.

To enter, complete the entry form on page 10 of today's Northern Echo.

Read more about the Chance to Live campaign here.