Children from across the Black Country have put on their walking shoes to take a stroll around the grounds of Dudley Zoo and Castle in aid of a good cause.

Hundreds of youngsters from Dudley, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and beyond turned out at the popular tourist attraction yesterday for the first day of the sponsored half-mile Barnardo’s Big Toddle.

Click here to see the picture gallery.

The event, which is expected to raise thousands of pounds for charity, has been going for a decade.

Due to a surge in popularity, the walk is now held over three days and this year it will run until tomorrow.

Read the full story in the Express & Star.

Children from across the Black Country have put on their walking shoes to take a stroll around the grounds of Dudley Zoo and Castle in aid of a good cause.

Hundreds of youngsters from Dudley, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and beyond turned out at the popular tourist attraction yesterday for the first day of the sponsored half-mile Barnardo’s Big Toddle.

Click here to see the picture gallery.

The event, which is expected to raise thousands of pounds for charity, has been going for a decade.

Due to a surge in popularity, the walk is now held over three days and this year it will run until tomorrow.

Hundreds of walks will take place in the UK for the under fives but the West Midlands event is one of the biggest.

Barnardo’s spokeswoman Jacqueline Woodward said: “Everyone has been enjoying it. We get both nurseries and individual parents bringing along their children.”

Nursery spokeswoman Sharron Ellis, from Little Angels Day Nursery in Smethwick said: “Everyone was really looking forward to it and the kids seemed to have a great time.” Childminder Hiliary James also brought Robyn Webley, two, and Callum McDermott, three, from Codsall, for their first toddle while mums Nichola Osborne Andrina Gregory from Netherton, Clare Bennett from Quarry Bank and Karen Bailey from Pedmore went along together with their children to enjoy the walk.

Clare, with three-year-old Leyton, said: “It is just a great day out for all the kids and a great way to raise money.”

Nearly 20 youngsters from Calvary Pre-School in Kingswinford also joined in the fun along with children from Little Saints Childcare in Wolverhampton.