CHILDREN gathered at Coate Water on Saturday morning to trek around the full circuit of the lake in aid of Swindon Guide Dogs.

A group of 15, aged between six and eight-years-old, belonging to the 19th Swindon Beavers group were rounded up by leader Shirley Fitzgerald.

The hike is an annual event and as there is every year, a large number of beavers attended from across North Swindon, but Shirley added a new sponsored twist for her group.

Armed with their sponsor forms, the group of beavers were sent away to raise what they could ahead of the hike and Shirley hopes their efforts will lead to a donation of around £300 to the charity.

“The scouting organisation has brought out a disability awareness badge and one thing we’re actually looking into is guide dogs,” she said.

“Obviously, a lot of the children, at such a young age, can be quite scared of dogs. Getting them to come into the hall encourages them.

“The dogs are not scary, they are there to help us with a purpose and to help people who are blind and deaf.

“It makes the kids more aware of what’s going on within the society they’re living in. A lot of them don’t know what the guide dogs are for.”

The hike took the beavers around the whole of the lake before heading down Queens Drive and to their regular meeting spot in Whitbourne Avenue at Queens Drive Methodist Church.

New members are still welcome to join the group, which meets at the church every Monday between 6pm and 7pm.