WALKING day will go on with a new look in Stretton.

The annual village walking day is one of the few in the town that still goes ahead. This year will see a change to the traditional route.

Unlike on previous walking days the event taking place on July 21 will not include Tarporley Road or the A49, after borough council chiefs said a new route had to be found on safety grounds.

Stretton's walking day com- mittee has gone back to the drawing board with help from highway officers to ensure the walk still goes on for the hundreds of parishioners and pupils in the community.

A spokesman for Warrington Borough Council said: "The usual walk was not approved by police because of health and safety issues, which is why our officers are currently looking at new routes.

"The proposed route will go along Pewsterspear Green on the Pewsterspear estate to reduce traffic problems."

With suggestions from highway chiefs, villagers now have to go back to the committee to decide which route will be best for this year's event.

The changes come after Warrington Brough Council axed a number of public events two years ago due to health and saftey issues.

The new route will cut out the main roads and follow the internal streets, including the Roman Road and Owens Corner roundabout.

The Reverend Elaine Chegwin Hall, of St Matthew's Church, Stretton, said: "The main reason for the walk is the walk of witness.

"It is shame the route has to change but the main thing is that it is going ahead."

l Stretton Walking Day will take place at midday on July 21. The new route will be announced later this month.