THIS year’s Alton Walking Festival is to be extended to provide a week-long event covering a range of walks from long distance yomps to shorter strolls and “ghostly encounters”.

Based on the success of the weekend festival, held annually since 2013, this year’s programme runs from April 4-10 to coincide with the schools’ Easter holiday.

Run by Alton Town Council, the walks will be led by district clubs, societies, organisations and individuals, offering an opportunity to take part in everything from an 18-mile long-distance ramble to a short stroll suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Also featuring on the Saturday will be the popular Alton ghost walks, run by professional theatrical company Dark Encounters, and the heritage and English Civil War tours led by the Alton Town Guides, who will be adding family versions for the festival aimed at educating children about the town’s heritage.

Derek Gardner, chairman of Alton Town Council’s community and events committee, said: “We are all looking forward to the first Walking Festival Week and we are hoping that the event will attract enthusiastic walkers from further afield as well as local residents.

“This is a great event programme with walks designed to combine breath-taking views together with learning more about the town and its history. The council is grateful to our walk leaders for helping plan and lead the walks without whom we could not have put together such an impressive programme together.”

Bookings for the walking festival are now open, with forms and walk information available at alton.gov.uk and from the town hall on Alton’s Market Square.

Spaces are limited due to maximum group numbers, so advance booking is essential on a first-come, first-served basis.