HAVING dedicated half his life to tackling the world's most treacherous peaks, Andy MacNae is no stranger to tall orders.

Now the 38-year-old former full-time mountaineer and entrepreneur is scaling a new challenge as he aims to ensure Rossendale is one of the best places in the country to start up a business.

Andy has been appointed to head PEER (People Encouraging Enterprise in Rossendale) which was set up last year.

Inspired by a pioneering approach to businesss first established in Australia two decades ago by Ernesto Sirolli, the community network is funded by Business Link for East Lancashire and involves people from all over Rossendale joining forces to provide a grassroots support network for budding entrepreneurs.

It provides someone on the ground that people with business dreams can turn to - a job described by Sirolli as an Enterprise Facilitator.

Andy, who has a degree in astro-physics, has now been appointed to that role.

He said: "Mountaineering was my life. I set up my own business restoring period homes, which meant I had the flexibility to go off climbing when I wanted to.

"When people ask me about starting their own business I understand, because I have done it."

After a few years climbing he became heavily involved with the British Mountaineering Council, starting in sports development and ending up managing a wide range of commercial operations.

Anyone wanting more information can contact Andy MacNae on 07971 190827.