NEARLY 4,000 walkers, accompanied by 10 marching bands walked through town centre streets today when what is believed to be the 176th Warrington Walking Day, got under way.
Joining the walk for the first time was six month old Thomas Derbyshire, aged six months from Latchford, who is pictured above.
Town centre streets were closed to traffic from around 9.30am until around mid-day and some shops closed.
The annual walk of Christian Witness has again been organised by the town's churches and this year included a delegation from one of Warrington's twin towns, Nachod, in the Czech Republic who are visiting the town to study school and education projects.
But Walking Day always attract visitors - some new and some returning home - and many of these  joined the Walk or watched from the crowded pavements.
The official Walk started from the Town Hall at 10.30am. But many of the churches, schools and other organisations had walked in procession to the town centre earlier, with some on the road before 9.30am.
As usual, the procession was headed by the contingent from Warrington Parish Church and St John's Mission Church, followed by St Mary's RC Church.
They left the Town Hall, through the Golden Gates, around 10.30am, passing a raised dais where the Mayor and Mayoress, Coun and Mrs John Joyce, and warrington's two MPs Helen Jones and David Mowat, took the salute.
Other churches and groups taking part included the Salvation Army, Elmwood Avenue Church, St John's United Reformed Church, Our Lady's,  St Augustine's Church, Latchford Methodist Church,  Christ Church,  Sir Thomas Boteler CE High School,  St James Church, Latchford Baptist Church,  St Benedict's Church, Buckley Street Methodist Church, Friars Green Independent Methodists, Bold Street Methodist Church, Holy Trinity Church, Warrington Baptist Church, Wycliffe United Reformed Church, Youth for Christ,  Society of Friends,  St Andrew's Church, St Stephen's Church,  St Barnabas' Church, Workingmen's Mission,  Sacred Heart Church,  St Alban's Church and St Anselm's Church.

Pictures show six month old Thomas Derbyshire from Latchford, enjoying his first walking day, youngsters from Our Lady's Church, Latchford and Warrington Youth For Christ.
For more pictures from the event CLICK HERE
Click on the image below to see Warrington Walking Day Video.