A RISHTON funeral director is to cycle more than 150 miles to raise money for sufferers of cystic fibrosis.

Tom Birtwistle, 45, owns Rishton Funeral Service, ET Birtwistle & Sons, Great Harwood, and Talbots, Blackburn.

But from June 23 to 25 he will take time out from his work and ride 151 miles from coast to coast with two friends.

The ride is to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, and as they cycle from Walney Island, near Barrow in Furness, to Wear, near Sunderland, the group will be collecting cash.

Mr Birtwistle will be joined by friend and squash-playing partner Peter Booth, 58, of Clitheroe, and driving a support van and collecting cash will be David Taylor, 65, of Leyland.

Tom, married with two children, said: "I have never done anything like this in my life before.

"But it's something we have decided to do, so we are both in training to the best of our abilities and hopefully we will raise some money.

"We are certainly going to be giving it our best shot."

On their journey the group will be stopping in Tebay and Barnard Castle, County Durham, to spend the night.

Anybody who can donate money should use the team's internet site at http://uk.geocities.com/peter159463@btinternet.com or write to Natalie Cossins, regional organiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust at 49 King Edward Road, Gee Cross, Hyde, SK14 5JN.