An Army Cadet sergeant instructor is walking nearly 60 miles between memorial sites across Rossendale ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

On the sixth day, Phil Speddy will then take part in three Remembrance services, in Accrington, Haslingden and Rawtenstall.

The Royal Pioneer Corps veteran, 51, from Rawtenstall, said: “This will be a local community act of Remembrance and I am doing it to raise the profile of VIC as we are very lucky to have this facility in our area.

“Operations Manager Bob Elliott will be supporting me with back up in the minibus to make sure I have water and provisions and help if needed and I am asking veterans in the area to come along and join in for part of the walk.

“I will be camping out during the week and some veterans have also said they may join me.

“I set off on November 5 and start from what is reputed to be England’s highest war memorial at Deerplay Moor above Weir and that first day will be the longest and hardest of all as I go down to Bacup then on to Whitworth and back to Stacksteads.

“I will visit 61 memorials, graveyards with Commonwealth Graves and churches with Rolls of Honour.”

At each location the Last Post will be observed and a memorial cross with poppy will be placed. These have been made by members of 38th Rossendale Open Scout Group.

On day two he will travel from Stacksteads to Edgeside and then on to Dunnockshaw and then Day three will be from Dunnockshaw to Cloughfold and then to Rawtenstall.

Leaving Rawtenstall on Day four, he will visit Holden, and then on the fifth day he will visit Haslingden before making his way to Oak Hill Park in Accrington.

His final walk will take in Accrington, Haslingden and Rawtenstall, attending Remembrance services along the way.

Phil was one of 13 members of VIC to go on the Battlefields Tour in the summer and he paraded the VIC Standard at Menin Gate in Belgium.

Members of VIC will also be present at many other services and parades around Rossendale, Greater Manchester and East Lancashire in areas where they provide services.