IN a few days it will be a quarter-century since the Dalton bypass was officially opened to road traffic — but 500 Furness walkers were allowed a sneak preview.

The Mail, on November 16, in 1993, noted that the idea of a sponsored walk — to raise cash for charity — arose independently from St Mary's CE School, the Furness Lions and the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

More schools wanted to take part, including Askam, Burlington at Kirkby, Our Lady's RC at Dalton, Pennington, Walney Primary, South Newbarns Junior and Ormsgill.

Organisers had no idea how many would turn up but after a 50-year wait, people were keen to check out a new route that many believed would never be built.

See pictures of the building work and the December 1993 opening ceremony on Saturday.