AROUND 300 cyclists are set to take on a 47-mile circuit of the Pennine Bridleway to help fund a vital rescue service.

The Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team is staging the mountain bike challenge, ‘The Mary Towneley Loop’, on Sunday, September 4.

It is a challenge across 47 miles of Rossendale, Pendle and Calder Valley rural terrain and is the team’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

The event is seen as crucial to help fund the teams’ annual running costs of around £30,000.

Jonathan Sutterby, 45, from Langho, has been a member of the team for three years.

He said: “The event has been going for several years and all the team get involved to support the riders. “Our base for the day will be at Fearns Community College in Waterfoot and we will provide rider support facilities including hot food and and drinks, manned checkpoints with refreshments, a rider recovery service and sports massages at the finish.

“Our full team will be in attendance for encouragement around the course and for first aid cover if required.

“We are hoping for a great day with 300 riders hopefully completing the event.

“The event is always an enjoyable day for those who take part and has become our biggest single fundraising event.”

To enter the Mary Towneley Loop go to www.rpmrt.org.uk.

Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team is made up entirely of volunteers.

It’s called out through the 999 system, and cover an area of around 350 square miles in East Lancashire and parts of Manchester.