A GROUP of East Lancashire cement workers are in their final week of training for a 365-mile charity walk.

Pete Fielding will be joined by colleagues from Castle Cement and its sister companies in Kent and North Wales for the fundraising trail, starting on Sunday, March 28.

The intrepid walkers will complete the mission by relay - with two walkers completing nine miles before 12 hours of rest - and expect to raise around £11,000 for the North West Air Ambulance.

The circular journey will begin at Castle Cement around 9am and will be completed by around 1pm the following Friday.

Mr Fielding said: "We are as ready for it as we are going to be, although there are one or two who could do with losing a couple of pounds and some who will realise they've not done enough training when they get blisters."

So far, around £5,000 has been pledged in donations and the walkers hope that figure will be boosted in the coming week.

Cheques can be make payable to Walking in the Air, c/o Pete Fielding, Castle Cement, Clitheroe, Lancs, BB7 4QF.

Paul Crone, TV presenter and North West Air Ambulance director of communications, has also taken an interest in the group's efforts.

He said: "I can't begin to thank Pete Fielding and the rest of the team who are doing this to raise money for the air ambulance.

"I'll be there with plasters and blister pads."