THERE were lots of Jolly Rogers and even more smiling faces as dozens of toddlers and their parents converged on Blackburn’s Witton Park for a fancy dress fund-raiser.

Around 50 people took part in Saturday’s Barnardo’s Big Toddle in glorious sunshine with youngsters dressed as pirates for the occasion.

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The event was part of a drive by Blackburn, with Darwen Council to boost exercise levels among the under-fives.

The council’s healthy lifestyles team organised the one-mile walk to support Barnardo’s work with children the same age.

Amy Greenhalgh, exercise referral manager at the council’s wellbeing department, said she was delighted with the turn-out and support for the fun day.

She said: “We really want to promote healthy lifestyles for both children and adults and this is a really good example of how to do that.

“We invited a lot of families who go to classes at the community centres throughout the borough and there were new children there as well – which was great to see. The toddle was just under a mile. Everyone looked really good in their pirate fancy dress.”

The Blackburn Big Toddle was one of a host of walks taking place across the country between June 1 and June 12.

Among those to take part were Lucy Bulcock and her three-year-old daughter, Willow, from Blackburn.

Lucy said: “We only heard about it on Friday, but she was really excited to come down. She takes pirating very seriously!

“I’m fully supportive of anything that gets kids out and about and this is great.”

Council worker Helen Hindley also went along with her daughter, Georgia, one.

She said: “I work in the same department as these guys, but even so, it’s a great initiative.

“Georgia loves watching Swashbuckle on the television so she is really into the pirate theme.”

Before the toddle, the children enjoyed listening to music from Disney’s Frozen and went through a dance warm-up. All money raised goes towards Barnardo’s vital services for children.