CELEBRITY Burnley fan Alastair Campbell will be starting off a bikeathon in the town to raise money for charity.

For the fifth year in a row, a group of Burnley FC supporters are undertaking a mammoth bike ride to celebrate the final home game of the season against Cardiff City on Saturday.

Mr Campbell, former Downing Street press secretary, is set to lead the lap of honour with the team called Burnley Bike Riders', who will embark on a sponsored 600mile cycle from Burnley on Sunday.

The riders will take in Holland, Belgium and France before arriving at Selhurst Park in time for Burnley's last away game of the season against Crystal Palace on Sunday May 4.

Previously the group have cycled from the Eiffel Tower to Turf Moor, Lands End to John O Groats and Mizen Head back to Burnley.

The group will be led by Burnley's business operations manager Chris Gibson, and will also include former player Andy Farrell.

They will be departing from Hull to Amsterdam on Sunday, using pedal power to get through Arnhem, Breda, Ostened, Calais and back up to Crystal Palace from Dover in time for the final match of the season against the Eagles.

Burnley Football Club supporters are being asked to ditch their cars for the game on Saturday and opt for pedal power instead to join in the fun.

Talent spotters from British Cycling Go Ride will be organising competitions for youngsters to test their cycling skills and any promising riders will be offered a training session at the Manchester Velodrome.

Lancashire County Council's Cycling Road Show will also be taking place on Saturday which will include a virtual reality cycling trainer and demonstrations on secure bike storage.

There also will be the chance to win a top of the range made-to-measure bike and Mr Campbell will draw a raffle pitch-side for a Nissan Micra.

He said: "Come and join in the fun and support Burnley FC and Leukaemia Research, two causes very dear to my heart, and you will be helping to make a difference to people's lives."

It is hoped the two cycling events will boost Burnley Football Club's fundraising efforts to £35,000 for Leukaemia Research and Burnley Football Club's Youth Development Programme.