CORRIE star, Sam Aston is inviting people to join him on a sponsored dog walk to raise money for the RSPCA.

Sam, who plays Chesney in Coronation Street, will be part of the team taking part in the annual walk, which starts at the Warrington, Halton and St Helens branch rescue centre, Sluchers Lane at 10.30am on April 26.

The walk is around five miles, running from the centre to Sankey Valley Park and back again.

Those who don’t have a dog can walk a kennel dog, but are advised to get there for 9.45am.

After the walk Sam, who is a keen supporter of the branch, will be officially opening the Safe Haven scheme of which he has become a patron.

He said: “As an animal lover, I am delighted to be Patron of the Safe Haven scheme at the RSPCA Animal Centre.

“Animals here are given a second chance to find a new home with loving and caring owners.

“By sponsoring a kennel, cat pen or rabbit run for as little as £3 a month you will enable more animals, who may have been the victims of cruelty and abuse, to be helped.”

There will also be a Tombola, barbecue and face painting on the day. Sponsorship forms are available on the day, or from our website at warringtonguardian.co.uk/li/rspca.

In preparation for the day, probation workers will be tidying up the site beforehand, erecting stalls and gazebos and organising the car park.

Unpaid Work Supervisor Sandra Cunningham, added: “Last year Sam came with his parents to the opening of the new cattery because he’s mad about cats.

“He’s a lovely lad and he had plenty of time for everybody and he signed loads of autographs.

“The probation service are going to be there on the day and the offenders will prepare the centre for the event, tidy the site, assemble gazebos and fund-raising tables and help to organise the car park.

“We are hoping for a big turn-out for the sponsored walk and a lot of support for the Safe Haven scheme.

“We are going to struggle this year if we don’t get a regular income – we desperately need to get some money this year.

“We used to get a lot of legacies from people when they died but we don’t get as many now for some reason."

“Apart for grants for some big projects, the centre is not funded by the RSPCA – we have to raise all the money to pay for the running costs.”