WALKERS will see improvements to the Dorset coast path after the trail shared in £250,000 worth of funding secured early.

The South West Coast Path Association has raised the money for more than 50 improvement projects before a planned fundraising event takes place.

The association hoped to raise the cash through its 40th anniversary Great South West Walk due to start in April.

But the £250,000 target has been reached thanks to various funding bodies and companies that have agreed to support the walk.

The 630-mile South West coast path is the longest of the country's 15 National Trails running from Minehead in Somerset to Poole.

Commercial Partnerships Director for the South West Coast Path Association John Slater said: “We are extremely grateful to a range of organisations that have helped us to secure our target which means that every penny raised by walkers will take us above and beyond our original goal.

“I would like to say a huge thank you to Natural England and the Rural Development Programme which have both given significant funding to support our projects. There has also been fantastic support from across the tourism industry.”

He added: “To date sixteen of the improvement projects to the path are receiving sponsorship committed from individual businesses and over forty of the fifty six of the walk have been sponsored. All of this combined support means that the Great South West Walk will smash its original target of £250,000 and even more projects to improve the path can be identified.”

To take part in the Great South West Walk register in advance by calling the SWCPA on 01752 896237 More information is available at GreatSouthWestWalk.co.uk