A TAPAS bar and pub has set itself a mountain to climb in a bid to raise money for charity.

New owners of the Holden Arms, Grane Road, Haslingden, Nick and Denise Hogan have pledged to help Rossendale Search and Rescue Team

And with £4,000 already promised they are determined to reach their goal.

The couple took over at the pub on May 7 when the traditional local was transformed into the town's first tapas bar complete with national flags which herald the gateway to Haslingden.

They inherited their links with the search and rescue team who use the pub for meetings .

They then decided to set a challenge of raising £23,000 to £30,000 to buy a new ambulance for the team as a thank-you, .

More than £4,000 has been secured and a Las Vegas casino night on August 15 should help swell the total.

Nick said: "Tickets are £20 and that includes a tapas buffet, a cabaret style evening and genuine casino tables.

"We are also going to have a fun day on August 24 from 12 noon to 10pm on the car park and in the pub.

"Already the event has been sponsored by Guinness, Stella, Banks brewery, Parade and Andrew Sanderson Meats of Baxenden who is providing meat for the barbecue.

"We have got eight live bands already signed up to entertain and celebrities have agreed to come along including Nick Cochraine, Andy McDonald from Coronation Street, and snooker player Jimmy White.

"Other entertainers include Paul Mac who won the Ant and Dec challenge on their Saturday night programme.

"There will also be a fun fair, outside bar and lots of stalls."

Nick said it was their way of saying thank-you to the search and rescue team for using their pub as a meeting place.