A PRESTON policeman is gearing up for a once in a lifetime fund-raising mission.

Police constable Andy Duncan, who is based at the motorway police station in Samlesbury, will be taking to the saddle next June as he sets off on a gruelling 500-mile bike ride across the Canadian Rockies.

The 41-year-old bobby has already raised a quarter of the £4,500 which he hopes to rake in from his charity cycle dash and will be donating it all to the Children's Hospital Appeal Trust (CHAT).

To make sure he is up to the daunting challenge, in nine months time, fighting fit Andy is putting himself through the paces by cycling around the Forest of Bowland.

He said: "I am very much looking forward to it but it's going to be a real challenge. The effort itself, to make sure I'm up to it, is a real challenge. Sometimes I'm cycling up to 90 miles a day."

In previous years the charity champ has raised around £20,000 for the good cause after pedalling hundreds of miles around the world, including Egypt and Israel.

Andy, who has been with the police force for 23 years, started his fund-raising triumphs four years ago. This week, he travelled to Blackpool's Victoria Hospital to meet some of the staff and patients who have benefited from his mercy missions.

Recently, the hospital purchased a new monitoring device called a Data Log which looks after the major functions of the body when a child is ill.

If you would like to sponsor Andy or would like to join him on his ride contact the CHAT office on 0161 276 8700.