A WALKING challenge featuring some of the key sights surrounding Oswestry has entered its fourth year.

The Oswestry Round Challenge (ORC) is a 33 mile charity walk combining parts of Offa’s Dyke Path and the Montgomery and Llangollen Canals to form a complete circuit around Oswestry.

The Challenge is based on ‘The Oswestry Round’ written by Dave Andrews, who is currently reader and writer in residence at Oswestry Library, and his wife Jane Trudgill.

Dave was treated in the Lingen Davies Centre in 2014 and he sees the book and the annual Challenge as ways of saying thank you for the care he received.

"The Oswestry Round is a delightful route," said Dave Andrews, who wrote the book it’s based on with financial support from Borderland Rotary Club.

"The Challenge is a great way to meet people, get some exercise and raise money for two cancer charities at the same time. It’s always a fun day, even when it rains!"

During its first three years the ORC and the book together have raised over £40,000 for Cancer Research UK and Lingen Davies Cancer Fund at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. The organisers’ aim this year is to raise a further £25,000.

The route starts and finishes at the Lion Quays Hotel and Spa complex on the A5 just north of the town.

This year’s challenge will be held on Saturday, June 15. Those who take part will be able to attempt either the whole route - all 33 miles - or just half of it and stop at Llanymynech and get a lift back to the start.

The organisers are also keen to hear from anyone who would like to be a marshal or help in some other way.

For more info on marshalling contact Annie at lizzy.kerr@sky.com

And for more information about the ORC itself or to register please go to the Oswestry Round Challenge at www.oswestryround.co.uk