WALKERS hoping to take part in Herefordshire's 5th walking festival - which begins on Saturday - should pick up the telephone and call the booking office at Queenswood.

The nine-day festival is experiencing record ticket sales and some of the 60 walks are fully booked following huge interest from outside the county. Some are overbooked and leaders have agreed to take a few "extras".

More than 1,000 tickets had been sold earlier this week, leaving 290 places available from a total of 1,466.

"Tickets are being snapped up and we are very pleased," said Lisette Davies, of Herefordshire Tourism.

"There are still places on some superb walks, including some very scenic sections of the new Herefordshire Trail. The programme includes parts of the trail on each of the nine days."

The 154-mile trail, which links the five Herefordshire market towns, was launched last week by Michael Buerk.

Expert leaders are guiding walkers along the trail. Coaches are being provided to ferry people to the start and from the finish of each section.

The walks include a peep at the "secret" gardens of the cathedral, a walk-talk about historic Castle Green and "Stones of the City", which looks at the geology of Hereford's buildings.

A highlight of the event will be a prize draw for a walking holiday in Tuscany offered by Exodus, the festival sponsors. Competition entry forms are available from the Tourist Information Centre.

The festival programme is available at tourist information. To book places on the main walks, call the booking office on 01568 797842 or go online on at www.walkingfestival.com