THE Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, based in Chippenham, wants hundreds of people to take part in the 2002 Walk for Whales and Dolphins on May 26.

The WDCS, in St Paul Street, hopes the walk will raise funds and awareness for their Sea Red campaign in the run-up to the 2002 International Whaling Commission meeting. The meeting will be held in the Japanese whaling village of Shimonoseki and it could be the venue for a decision to resume commercial whaling.

Walkers will be wearing red clothes and carrying red flags and banners in support of the Sea Red campaign, which opposes any return to commercial whaling. Around the country, 66 walks will take place, most about five miles long. The nearest walk will begin in Bath's Victoria Path, in Royal Avenue at 10am.

Before and during the 2002 IWC meeting, WDCS will be highlighting the exploitation of small cetaceans dolphins, porpoises and small whales, tens of thousands of which have been killed in Japanese waters.

The Walk for Whales and Dolphins has developed over the past eight years into a major event.

For further information about the WDCS Walk for Whales and Dolphins contact Nicky Knowles on (01249) 449512.