ORGANISERS of an animal charity are hoping to beat their own record with a special event this month.

Last year's Great British Greyhound Walk saw 108 people and dogs take part in an organised walk in York to raise money and awareness for rescue dogs, and organisers want even more to take part this year.

Team Pointy are this year raising money for Tia Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue, based near Hebden Bridge, which is the largest rehoming centre of its kind in the North, looking after animals which may have been dumped, abandoned or given up from racing tracks.

The centre is hoping to relocate, and this year's York event will be raising money for the relocation, and also for the plight of black greyhounds, who are most frequently overlooked during the adoption process.

Clea Grady, one of the York event's organisers, said: "We will be highlighting this on our walk and at the fete afterwards - even going so far as to have a 'Black Beauty' category in our Dog Show.

"Our aim is to bring owners together regardless of where their hound may have been homed from. We want to collectively raise the awareness of greyhounds, lurchers, salukis, whippets and deerhounds, so that people can see what fabulous pets these gentle animals make. And the best way we know how to do that is to get out there, and walk with them."

About 2,000 dogs will take part in walks all over the country on June 22, and Team Pointy used last year's event - which is one of the best attended in the country - to start their own walking group by the River Ouse once a month, bringing together owners and pets.

The walk will start and finish at the Fulford Arms, York, on Sunday, June 22, setting off at 10.30am, with games, raffles, stalls, refreshments and the dog show following.