TWO Clitheroe teachers have set up the Ribble Valley's first running club solely for women.

Designed to help women who are juggling careers and children to get in shape, the club holds its first meeting next month.

Organisers hope the group will also persuade women who might otherwise have been wary of jogging on dark, wintry nights to pick up the hobby.

The club is the brainchild of Joanne Ruddock and Julie Martin.

Joanne, a mother-of-two, said they hit upon the idea after they struggled to find the time or motivation to jog regularly.

She said: "We have both been running intermittently for some time but found it hard to make it a regular thing.

"Like many women we have busy lives, juggling full-time jobs and needed a set time and place to run to help motivate ourselves.

"This will give women the support they need to get in shape, especially during the dark nights. Some women are wary of jogging in the dark on their own, so we hope a group like this will encourage them to take it up.

"It's a social thing as much as anything else. We felt that women in Clitheroe needed a club like this."

Sergeant Andy Pilkington, of Clitheroe Police, said women should feel safe jogging in the dark. But he added: "I can understand that there is a perception by some women that they could be victims of crime if they went out at night.

"But if they were to go out jogging in the evening, then the Ribble Valley would be one of the safest places.

"I also welcome anything that encourages people to keep fit."

The club's first run will start from the car park of the Black Horse pub, Pimlico Road, at 7pm on Tuesday, March 1.

Runs will be every week over distances of between two to five miles. Organisers stress that the runs are non-competitive and will stick to the pace of the slower runner.