IT is a new year - and with it comes another landmark for the Keswick to Barrow walk which has raised millions for local charities.

It is 50 years since 86 walkers set out on the first ever K2B on April 1 1967.

Taking part were three teams: one from HMS Resolution (the first Polaris submarine under construction in Barrow at the time); one made up of shipyard workers and another from the commercial department of Vickers.

History records that the Royal Navy team were victorious, although a shipyard worker was the first person back to Barrow.

Roll forward 50 years and more than 3,000 people are expected to be taking part in the 51st K2B and the eighth Coniston to Barrow walk.

Together, they are likely to raise more than £300,000 for good causes.

Roy Barnes, IT, charities and awards co-ordinator for the K2B, is delighted that, yet again, the number of people taking part is jumping up.

"There will be around 1,700 doing the K2B which is a drop of nearly 15 per cent, but with a 1,600 walking the C2B, which is a big increase, the overall number is up 10 per cent," he said.

Roy points to another trend he has seen, as more competitors are signing up from across the UK and overseas.

"We have one person coming all the way from Hong Kong and others from Europe and Canada.

"We’ve always had clusters of competitors from the around the North West and Derby because of companies connected to the shipyard, but we are increasingly getting people from all over the UK as more people hear about the K2B challenge," he said.

And what makes a good K2B for Roy and his fellow army of volunteer organisers?

"We just want everybody to get back safely and for there not to be too much rain.

"Last year, the week before, there was snow and then on the Saturday it was one of the hottest ever, so we had to switch from worrying about blankets to buying in extra water."

This year has seen the introduction of a trail £10 entry fee and there is a new-look K2B website, but, as ever, it is the tweaks to the route which have been the biggest talking points.

The walk start has been kept at Naddle Bridge, east of Keswick close to the A66, which keeps the route at 42.55 miles.

Walkers will be pleased that an off-road section between Elterwater and Coniston to has been dropped in favour of using the path via Hodge Close, which has been improved by the National Trust and Fix the Fells.