DOZENS of football fans, the mayor and Lofty the Lion have walked their way to raising cash for the Bolton Coronary Care appeal.

They put their best foot forward in the Mayor of Bolton's Charity Walk before Bolton Wanderers' Premiership home game against Aston Villa yesterday.

Some were hospital workers, others were from Bolton Council, a few were in fancy dress -- and some even brought their pets along.

The walk not only helped to raise money for a new unit at the Royal Bolton Hospital for heart attack victims but also marked Bolton Wanderers' 125th anniversary.

Starting at the car park of the Big W, which stands on the site of the old Burnden Park ground, the fund-raisers followed a seven-mile route that passed Bolton's original ground at Pikes Lane before finishing at the Reebok Stadium.

The mayor, Councillor John Walsh, was out and about at 5.45am putting up posters to give the walkers directions.

He said: "I've personally raised about £500 and I'm delighted. I would like to thank all my sponsors."

Three Bolton Council workers raised a few smiles as they went along dressed as policewomen, armed with plastic truncheons and water pistols.

Hazel Hulme, aged 36, Christine Waldram, aged 54, and Kelly Jones, aged 24, all work in customer services. Between them, they raised hundreds of pounds for the appeal.