TELEVISION presenter Luke Casey put his best foot forward yesterday to officially launch the Hambleton Strollers.

The Dales Diary presenter joined more than 70 members of the group for a 30-minute walk around Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

"Walking is a wonderful, therapeutic activity," he said. "More and more people now seem to be getting out of their cars and putting one foot in front of the other. I wish the Strollers great success and hope that many more people will follow their example."

The Strollers are part of the national Walking the Way for Health initiative, which aims to get more people walking regularly while enjoying meeting new people and seeing new places in their home towns.

It is spearheaded by the Countryside Agency and the British Heart Foundation, with extra cash from the New Opportunities fund and Kia cars.

Group chairman Dave Goodwin said: "We mean to help prevent coronary heart disease, and aim to get people who have sedentary lifestyles taking up exercise. The group is already seeing successes - 70 people are regular walkers and there are many more waiting to join us."

The group has mapped out 30 walks around Northallerton, Stokesley and surrounding villages.