RAMBLERS with an ear for a good yarn will get the chance to explore the borough next month with this year’s Thurrock Walking Festival.

Thurrock 100 Stories is the theme of this year’s roaming fest, which aims to explore and celebrate the heritage of the borough.

Twenty-one unique walks, each based around a story telling local history, have been unveiled by arts organisation Kinetika.

Walkers will get the option to choose from “buggy-friendly” walks to “more strenuous rural hikes”, a Kinetika spokesman said.

Highlights will include heritage walks around Stanford-le-Hope, East Tilbury and Horndon-on-the-Hill, two walks which end at the Village Beach festival in Grays, and the Two Forts Walk on Saturday, July 17, beginning at Tilbury Fort and ending at Coalhouse Fort, where a spectacular finale will take place.

The arts organisation, based in Purfleet, has been hard at work with local residents collecting 100 stories and creating 100 flags, with each one telling a unique story of the borough.

The festival kicks off on Friday, July 8, with a family-friendly walk around Bulphan, and there are seven more walks over the weekend, including a heritage walk around Grays led by Mike Ostler and Phil Edgar, and a walk from Purfleet to the RSPB Sanctuary at Rainham Marshes led by Kinetika’s artistic director Ali Pretty.

Peter Woodard, of Horndon- on-the-Hill, who is leading eight of the walks, is pleased to be taking part for the second year.

Mr Woodard said: “This year we’ve organised 21 walks all over Thurrock, and we’ll be visiting many of the places that feature in the 100 stories we’ve collected.

“You don’t have to walk far. Some of the walks are only a mile or two in length, while others will appeal to more am - bitious hikers. There really is something for everyone.”

Thurrock Council Chief Executive Lyn Carpenter says: “I’m delighted this initiative is taking place for a second year, and we are very grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England for providing the funding that has enabled it to happen.

“We’re very keen to support projects that encourage our residents to be physically active, and to explore and cel - ebrate our heritage too.”

Full details and information about taking part are at www.

thurrock100.com/walks as well as in leaflets in all libraries, civic buildings and health centres.