A SCHEME to get people on the road to health and fitness will be unveiled this week.

Groundwork West Durham, Derwentside District Council and Derwentside Primary Care Trust will launch a Derwentside Doorstep Walks Programme on Wednesday at St Stephen's Church hall, South Stanley, from 1pm to 3pm.

The afternoon will include talks on the history and future of the initiative, a walk through the area's green corridor and Stanley Burn Wood, and a buffet.

The programme aims to attract 5,000 people to the 16 walks, which are no longer than three miles and suitable for all ages and abilities. The first will be along the Lanchester Valley Walk on Wednesday, May 14.

A leaflet detailing the walks will be available in GP surgeries, libraries, leisure centres and community centres, or from the Groundwork office at Craghead Village Hall.

Claire Longstaff, Groundwork project officer organising the scheme, said: "After a good response from the pilot scheme in 2002 it was felt that people in Derwentside, especially those living on their own, had no suitable walking groups in their area.

"Derwentside Doorstep Walks aims to address this issue by holding short, manageable walks."