WALKERS are being encouraged to put their best foot forward to help Pendleside Hospice by taking part in a Morecambe Bay Walk.

The walk takes place on Sunday, August 8, and it costs £10 to take part, which includes transport to and from the Reedley-based hospice.

Anyone being sponsored to raise money for the hospice by doing the walk will be able to travel and enjoy the walk free of charge.

The walk across the bay is being led by the Queen's Official Guide to the Sands, Cedric Robinson, who earns just £15 per year for guiding literally thousands of intrepid walkers across the estuary of the River Kent, which has the fastest flow of any British river.

Pendleside Hospice cares for local people suffering from cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

It faces running costs of £1.5million for the coming year and a grant from the local Primary Care Trust accounts for only 25 per cent of this figure, meaning that over £1.1million has to be raised from fund-raising events and donations.

This will be the third year that the hospice has organised a walk across the sands of Morecambe Bay.

In previous years more than 250 people have taken part and more than £11,000 has been raised towards the care of local people.

Anyone interested in taking part should call the fund-raising office at the hospice on 01282 440100 for an information pack.