A NEW guide to walking around a North Yorkshire town has been launched.

The guide to Stokesley has been published by the Hambleton Strollers.

The pack contains six walk cards with directions and maps, and a complete town map showing footpaths.

The guide was launched by Hutton Rudby GP Dr Bruce Davies.

Hambleton Strollers was set up three years ago as part of a national Countryside Agency initiative to promote health.

It already offers weekly guided walks around all Hambleton's towns and some villages.

The walking group has more than 600 members and hopes to launch more guides.

Strollers co-ordinator Marion Archer said: "These new walk packs will make it easy for people who cannot join our led excursions to try out the same walks.

"We chose Stokesley for the first pack because it is such a popular location.

"We can take people through the town centre, into the residential areas, out into some countryside and even through the industrial estate, seeing places they may not even know exist."

The guide is available free from Stokesley library, as well as the leisure, health and tourist information centres, and district council offices.

The guide has been sponsored by Sanderson Taylor Partnership, the Rotary Club and Stokesley and District Round Table.

To help fund walking packs for Northallerton, Thirsk, Bedale, Great Ayton and Easingwold, call (01609) 767276.