SOME of television's best known personalities were among 4,200 people who stepped out on the 13th Great North Walk yesterday.

Sir Jimmy Savile, a life-long charity campaigner, saw each of the four sets of walkers off from the starting point in Wolsingham, County Durham, with the release of 2,000 balloons to mark the year 2000.

Coronation Street star Denise Welch, who plays Rovers Return landlady Natalie Barnes, was joined by Geordie husband, Auf Wiedersehen Pet actor Tim Healy, as she put her best foot forward for a children's heart charity.

"I'm walking for the Children's Heart Unit Fund, Chuf, which I've recently become patron of," she said.

"It's a great day, because most people are walking for some charity or other."

Tim said: "I've never done the Great North Walk before, but I have done the Great North Run and pushed a boy in a wheelchair when I was supporting a muscular dystrophy charity.

"This is a good excuse to get back in the North-East. I think the weather's perfect - not too hot."

Walkers and their supporters were entertained on the start site by Pantastic, a drumming group from the Barbara Priestman School, in Sunderland.

Bob Johnson, weatherman with Tyne Tees Television, which was supporting the event along with The Northern Echo, was among the 4,273 walkers, filming for a show on the history of the walk.

But even he was unable to bring out the sunshine for the event, organised by Wear Valley District Council.

Charity champion Sir Jimmy said: "The Great North Walk raises a lot of money for good causes and this is the first time I'm actually going to walk it.

"I'm here because it's Geordieland and Weardale - I never need any urging to come up to this neck of the woods."

After setting the walkers on the way, the star took a walk round the eight-mile course himself, taking in much of the area's countryside, including a stretch of the Old Weardale Way, starting and finishing at Wolsingham Recreation Ground.

Many walkers supported local charities, such as the Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland.

Some, including Geoffrey Miller, from Shildon, walked the course in fancy dress. Mr Miller donned full cricketing gear to walk in support of the Life After Cancer charity.

Tyne Tees will broadcast the programme, Wear Walking, on Friday, August 4, at 10.30pm.