People from as far afield as Italy, Scandanavia and the United States visited West Cumbria for the annual fundraising weekend, organised by local rock star Francis Dunnery.

And the busy weekend culminated on Sunday with a sponsored walk around Ennerdale Lake, which saw 130 people of all ages – led by Francis himself – take part in the seven-mile hike.

“It was a well-attended walk, with numbers slightly up on last year,” said Mark Andrews, the local fundraiser for the Charlie and Kathleen Dunnery Children’s Fund.

“We met in Bowness Knott car park where Francis met people and posed for pictures before we set off on the walk.

“And the weather was kind to us – the rain held off and it stayed bright right to the end. It was a real family event and everyone seemed to enjoy it.”

The festivities, which have raised between £15,000 and £20,000, began on Friday night with a welcome dinner in The Summergrove. It was followed by a 50-person table tennis competition on Saturday morning – which, believe it or not, was actually won by the It Bites star!

Saturday night saw Francis play a well-received near sell-out concert in Whitehaven Civic Hall with his new band, Francis Dunnery’s Brand New It Bites.

The money raised is added to the proceeds of a golf day and auction held in July.

See page 25 for coverage of the Civic Hall concert.