The Anglia Community Leisure (ACL) summer Health Walks programme has just launched and for the first time includes a new set of weekly walks for people who are absolute beginners or very unfit.

All walks are free and led by specially trained volunteers.

The weekly walks will take place every Monday, starting on 4 July and Tuesdays from 9 August and will be laps of a field with the intention of giving people the chance to gently build up the amount of laps they can achieve.

The Monday walks will meet at 11am at Houldsworth Valley/Scout Hut off Rowley Drive in Newmarket with a walk around the Newmarket College Sports Field. The first walk will meet on Monday 4 July.

The Tuesday walks will meet at 10am at Moulton Village Hall for a walk around Moulton Village Hall field beginning on 9 August. The walks have been timed to link with bus routes into the village. Straight after the Moulton walk, at 11am, Ron Wallwork, former international walker, will lead another walk for those who are slightly fitter. The idea is that people can build up to this and once they find the field laps relatively easy they can push themselves to the next step.

Another new route for more experienced walkers this season is a 4.2 mile grade 4 walk (grade 5 is the most challenging) through Moulton and Gazeley on Tuesday 9 August. There will also be a couple of summer specials including the 6.5miles '3 churches walk' starting at Moulton on Tuesday 26 July and the 5 mile grade 3 walk called '2 Racecourses', meeting at Devils Dyke on Tuesday 16 August.

Mick Smith, walks co-ordinator, says: "I'm so pleased to be able to launch the new weekly walks as I know how daunting it can be to start any form of activity when you are very unfit. This way people will be with others in the same boat as themselves and they can gradually build up their confidence as they make walking a regular part of their life. Summer is a wonderful time to start and the walks are a great way to get some fresh air, take some exercise and make new friends into the bargain. Everyone is welcome."