IT WAS party time for members of the Dorchester Strollers.

The county town walking group held its post Christmas party in the Corn Exchange.

The celebration was preceded by one of the group's regular Tuesday afternoon walks.

After tea the Mayor of Dorchester Tim Harries and Mayoress Anita Harries made a series of presentations of volunteer certificates to all the committee and walk leaders as well as first aid certificates to those who had undertaken update training with the Red Cross.

The pair also presented leader certificates to Colin Dunn and Trish Merrett and a special certificate for outstanding contribution to Walking for Health

to co-ordinator and leader Susan Blake.

There was then a raffle and then two quizzes, one of which was a photo quiz of places visited by the group on their walk.

It so happened that the winner of both quizzes was the mayor and mayoress.

A group spokesman said: "The Strollers is a very sociable group and walkers are often so engrossed in conversation that they would have difficulty remembering the the route of their walk."

Dorchester Strollers is an accredited Walking for Health Group offering two walk occasions each week, on Mondays at 10.30am and every

Tuesday from the side of the Corn Exchange leaving at 2.15 pm.

On each occasion a slow walk of up to 45 minutes is offered as well as a longer faster walk of an hour.

Both groups meet up afterwards for tea or coffee. The walks are free and led by specially trained leaders.

Programmes for the Strollers can be obtained from Dorchester Tourist Information Centre, by ringing 01305 263759 or by looking on walkingforhealth.org.uk