The Roman emperor Hadrian is the inspiration for a sponsored walk that Rotarians hope will raise at least £15,000 for local good causes.

The walk along the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal from Reading to Bristol, on Sunday April 25, is the brainchild of Melksham Rotary Club member Arnold Snowball, from Atworth.

He is appealing to people from the areas through which the canal runs to take part in the event, at which no-one will walk further than five-and-a-half miles.

Mr Snowball helped organise a similar event in his native Carlisle some years ago.

He said: “The Rotary Club of Carlisle was appealing for money for a new wing at the children’s hospice in Carlisle. We organised the walk along Hadrian’s Wall, which is 84 miles.

“We divided the walk into easy sections and no one walked more than one of those sections. We managed to raise £8,000. When my wife and I moved down here we looked for a similar kind of walk and we discovered the canal.

“The length of the canal from Reading to Keynsham is just a mile-and-a-half longer than Hadrian’s Wall. We have split it into 19 sections and they will all be walked at the same time.

“We are trying to get as many toes on the towpath on the day as possible.”

The walk will raise money for Dorothy House Hospice Care, Help for Heroes and the K&A Canal Trust.

To take part write to Arnold Snowball at 28 Bath Road, Atworth SN12 8LW enclosing a self-addressed A5 envelope, ring (01225) 708366 or email j.a.snowball@homecall.co.uk

Picture caption: Walk organiser Arnold Snowball with Charles Reiss of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, Melksham Rotary president Geoffrey Scott-Baker, Help for Heroes’ Bernice Brady, Rotarians Derek Murphy, Tony Quinn and Bruce Sanders, Katrina Sudbury of Dorothy House and Melksham mayor Richard Wiltshire.