BEST Herefordshire farm-made 'bangers' and the scorching weekend weather combined to get the second Herefordshire walking Festival off to a sizzling start.

The nine-day festival - which attracted people from all over the country and a party from Switzerland - was launched at Leominster Farmers Market with a walkers' breakfast of sausages and local apple juice.

Sausage munchers Rod and Trish from Nottingham and Rosemary from Solihull were delighted to get such a nice welcome to the county.

Council leader Roger Phillips told the launch crowd he wanted everyone taking part in the festival to enjoy taking time out with Mother Nature.

Mr Phillips said: "It's my hope that the festival will become an annual event that will benefit our county and our businesses."

Nottingham-based dentist Rod Hepburn and his wife Trish, a medical statistician, booked into a guesthouse at Bromyard to sample the delights of the festival after reading about it in a national walking magazine.

They were looking forward to further samplings of locally produced food and drink - the festival theme.

"We've come away looking for a real rural retreat and we'll be back to Herefordshire if we like it, " said Rod before setting off on a seven-mile circular walk from Leominster to Kimbolton.

It was one of the first treks in a programme of 59. The leader, Dennis Downey of Leominster Rambling Club, planned the route to include visits to Stockton Bury Gardens and to farmers' market stallholder Fiona Bunting at nearby Grove Farm. The walk attracted a mix of local people and visitors.

Health visitor Rosemary Booker from Solihull, a regular walker, decided to make a weekend trip to Herefordshire after a friend passed on a leaflet about the festival. "It's a great idea, " she said.

l The Hereford Times has put its boots on for the festival. At 13.5 miles The Hereford Times Midsummer Walk, a circular from Leominster via Monkland and Kingsland, is one of the longer treks. There will be several stops, including a pause for an (optional) paddle in the River Arrow. Last year festival organisers asked for feedback and were surprised to get many requests for a greater selection of longer walks.

l The festival ends on Sunday. There were still places left on some walks at the time of going to press. See the programme available at tourist centres or at www.walkingfestival.com The booking office at Queenswood can be contacted on 01568 797842.