A programme of free guided walks starts this weekend as part of The Valley of Stone' project.

The first of 24 guided walks will be held on Sunday, April 6 and will be three miles long.

The walk is to Moss and Landgate quarries, meeting at 1.30pm outside Shawforth Chapel, off Market Street, Shawforth and will be accompanied by all terrain electric buggies called Trampers'.

Walks, which have been supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, will continue until November.

Second Sundays of the month walks will be four to six miles and third Sundays seven to nine miles.

All are welcome and stout footwear is recommended.

Arthur Baldwin, quarry and geology enthusiast, said: "This is a great opportunity to promote Rossendale's rich stone heritage in a practical way, to see the quarries and celebrate the impressive remains from the endeavour of a hard working community."