Families flock to join in new walk

Scores of people have taken part in a new guided walk to see in 2012 at a Staffordshire beauty spot.

A three-mile walk around Chasewater attracted many people from across the region looking for fresh air and a way to kick-start a healthy new year.

Starting from the Chasewater Innovation Centre, the New Year's Walk took in the large reservoir led by Ellen Williams, a Chasewater Country Park Ranger.

She said: "It's the first time we have done it here, but we plan to hold a lot more.

"I think the current plan is to hold one every quarter, so there will probably be another one in March and then another in August."

The reservoir, which was built in 1799, has been having walls repaired for the first time in 200 years.

The work, costing £3 million was commissioned after a report prepared by Lichfield District Council warned that urgent action was needed.

Without the work, the walls of the dam could have been breached by a heavy flood.

Lichfield District Council's leisure chief Neil Turner said that if the work had been put off any longer a tide of water could have escaped towards Shenstone and Tamworth, risking many lives.

The reservoir provides a water supply for the region's canal system.

The county council took over ownership of the reservoir from the district council in May.