THE skies above Rossendale will be a hive of activity when materials for a new bridleway are flown in by a helicopter.

Bosses at North Yorkshire-based Dinsdales Moorland Services will use the Squirrel helicopter this month to airlift stone from Britannia Quarry to surface the route between Lee Quarry to Rooley Moor Road.

The helicopter will help protect the local land, which includes peat moors, by reducing the number of lorry movements.

The new bridleway will create link between the bike trails on the moors as part of the Pennine Lancashire Adrenaline Gateway.

The bridleway will provide a link to the Pennine Bridleway which, in turn, will establish the link to Gisburn, which will go through the adjoining Pennine boroughs.

Steve Jackson, Rossendale Council’s head of health, housing and regeneration, said: “This work marks the beginning of a very exciting phase of development for the Adrenaline Gateway bike trails that have been developed in recent years.

“I am delighted that Rossendale Council has been able to support this fantastic project which is attracting people from far and wide to the borough.”

Steve Dean, the managing director of Lancashire County Developments Ltd, said: “The aim of this work is to improve the landscape and create a new route connecting Lee Quarry and the Adrenaline Gateway to the wider Pennine area.

“Adrenaline Gateway has put Lancashire on the alternative and extreme sports map with facilities that are already ranking among the best in the world.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this work may cause and hope that local people will be patient while this work is carried out."”

The work is scheduled for completion by November.

People will not be able to use the route while work is carried out.