A STROLL around a pictureque park has been shortlisted as one of Britain's best dog walks.

Blackburn woman Rachael Hutchinson entered the walk she and her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Netta take almost every day, into a competition launched by pet food firm Winalot.

Rachael, 25, of Peridot Close, has now learned that her walk, taking in Roe Lee Park as well as its surrounding fields and houses, had been picked as one of the final 12 from more than 600 entries.

If she wins, Rachael, her husband Steven and Netta will win a weekend away in a dog-friendly hotel, as well as a trophy and a year's supply of food for the hungry hound.

Some of the food will have to be shared by the latest addition to the doggy family, though - Netta had five pups in August, and the runt of the litter, Tiny, is being kept with her mum.

Walking the dogs has become Steven's job more recently, with Rachael expecting her second child, a boy, in January. Her daughter Sophie is four.

Rachael said: "I love dogs and have always had them as pets since I was a teenager.

"We've had Netta for two years now and I love going on that walk with her because it's great around the fields and in the park, and lots of other people take their dogs round there, so you're always bumping into people you know.

"If I don't take her round there, then I put her in the car and either take her up to the woods in Ribchester or round Witton Park. There are loads of great places for dogs round here.

"I very rarely enter competitions but I spotted this in my e-mails and thought I might as well give it a go. I couldn't believe it when they rang to say I'd been shortlisted."

Former Blue Peter presenter Tim Vincent, who judged the competition, said: "Creating a short-list of 12 from over 600 walks has been a really hard decision as we had so many great entries from all over Britain.

"I really like this walk because it has the perfect combination of variety for the dog and the walker."