KEEN walker, Ian Keys, 71, from Shepton Mallet, put his best foot forward during National Walking Month and clocked up more than 200km around his beloved Mendip Hills throughout May.

This is a feat that would not have been possible had he not opted to have his hip replaced 18 months ago. He encourages anyone in the area to get out walking - be it in May, or anytime of the year.

National Walking Month, set up by charity, Living Streets, encourages people to get out walking – and to choose feet over transport for local journeys. The charity believes walking is one of the easiest ways to improve our health and stay connected to our community, helping us feel less lonely and isolated.

Ian and his wife, Amanda, have fully embraced National Walking Month and walked an average of seven kilometres a day around the local area and historic Mendip Hills.

However, two years ago, Ian – a volunteer at ‘Shepton Walks’ – found his walking had almost halted due to his painful hip. He was advised that he faced a 12-month NHS waiting list for hip surgery in the area.

Realising that his physical and mental well-being were becoming greatly affected by his lack of regular walking, Ian decided to pay for his hip replacement privately with Wellsoon, a self-pay service from Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre, in Shepton Mallet.

Ian said: “When my hip started getting too painful to manage the paths and trails, I went to see my local GP and then an NHS consultant. The prognosis was that at some time in the next few years I would need to have a hip replacement.

“I didn’t want a year of enforced idleness and pain, so my wife and I decided I should have the operation at Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre, Shepton Mallet using its self-pay service; it had very short waiting lists and our son had been well looked after there a few years earlier when he had surgery following a sports injury.”

Alison Edwards, medical director at Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre, said: “So many of our patients come to us with painful joints – such as hips or knees – and tell us they are affecting their enjoyment of everyday things like walking. After a hip or knee replacement, we would advise taking it slowly and gradually easing back into trail walking, as Ian did.”

For more information about Shepton Walks, visit www.sheptonwalks.org