A RECORD number of walkers put their best foot forward and started the new year with a historic walk around Colchester.

About 35 people turned out for Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell’s New Year’s Day Walk.

The veteran MP led the group from Wimpole Road, to Colchester barracks, Abbey Fields and the Roman Circus before coming back into the town along High Street and walking around Castle Park.

“It would have to be the most successful one yet,” said Sir Bob.

“We had a record number of people and not even all of them were from Colchester but instead had found out about through the paper or through word of mouth.

“The best part was I wasn’t doing all the talking and people were chipping in with their own anecdotes and memories.”

The walk was the seventh is the series, which began in 2007.

Each walker who took part made a donation, with proceeds going to Colchester Food Bank.

About £135 was raised.