Ramblers have gone the distance in planning a walking festival for Sidmouth – and all civic leaders have had to do is rubber stamp it.

What began as a ‘Walkers are Welcome’ promotion turned into a week-long celebration of strolling, which has been pencilled in for next September.

Town councillors said it was a ‘natural’ project for the Parishes Together Fund, which towns and villages team up to apply for.

Councillor John Dyson said: “Norma Self mentioned a walking festival at the Parish Paths Partnership meeting in June.

“I said, ‘That’s a good idea – you organise it’ – and she has done just that.

“I think it’s a natural for this scheme.”

Provisional plans are for three or four walks a day to areas such as Ottery and Branscombe, and it is hoped the councils there will support it.

The festival has been costed at ‘£1,200 at the most’, and if that is shared between different parishes, Sidmouth’s fee could be just £700.

Cllr David Barratt said: “I support everything Cllr Dyson said. It’s absolutely the type of scheme that would work.”

“It’s value for money and will boost tourism – what more could you ask for?” added Cllr Chris Wale.

More information on the festival, which could become a biennial event, is expected in the next few weeks.

Members backed plans to have it shortlisted as a project for the Parishes Together Fund.