THE first official Bacup boundary walk turned to disaster for some of the 500 walkers.

For Rossendale Mountain Rescue Unit and the police, using walkie-talkies, had to comb rugged moorland late into the night, back in 1965, searching for people who had lost their way on the 16-mile trek.

The last of the lost walkers, three youths, were finally found at midnight and taken to the check-in station at Britannia, Bacup.

Altogether 16 of the 500 walkers who took part failed to finish the course and had to be rescued.

Walkers had been given instruction booklets to help them find their way round the long boundary, marked by numbered stones and iron posts.

Some of the stones were easily seen by the roadside, but many were hidden by stone walls and high moorland grass.

The walk had been organised with the help of Bacup Sports Council, and Mr J Taylor, of Stacksteads, had walked the route with a map and compass to ensure it gave the correct directions.

The walk started from Britannia and took in Lee Mill quarries to the head of Helm Clough and Rooley Road.

From Hailstorm Hill the route dropped down to Cowpe reservoir and valley towards Waterfoot and continued through the Glen.