TWO eco-warriors will swap their green gardening gloves for boxing mits when they step into the ring.

Pals, Richard Greenwood and Simon Harrington, both of Bolton, will square-up in a one-off charity fundraiser for their "Two Men Plant a Forest" campaign.

The pair hope to raise £50,000 to travel to the Ecuadorian rainforest, in South America, in October, when they will plant thousands of trees in a bid to reverse the effects of deforestation.

They started the fundraising last year. And this week will embark on a gruelling training regime for a white-collar fight night which they hope will provide the charity with its biggest cash boost to date.

Mr Greenwood, of Bradshawgate, and Mr Harrington, who owns The Bar, in Nelson Square, will be joined by more than a dozen other competitors, including local businessmen and Emmerdale stars, Kelvin Fletcher and Cleveland Campbell, who play Andy Sugden and Danny Daggert in the TV soap.

Mr Greenwood, aged 31, said: "This whole project is about going to extremes to get people to pay attention to the cause. When we were brainstorming for fundraising ideas, we thought we want to fight for what we believe in. So that's exactly what we're going to do."

The event takes place at the De Vere Whites Hotel Premier Suite on Sunday, April 1. Neither of the pair have boxed before and, from Sunday, will train three times a week at Elite Boxing Club, on Halliwell Road, Bolton, and Dynamics Boxing Club, Radcliffe.

Mr Greenwood said: "I'm feeling really good about training, I've even bought a punchbag for my flat. It's wonderful to have so much local support and it's great to have celebrities raising the campaign profile."

And the sweat and tears should help build up their strength for the mammoth task they face in Ecuador, where they will plant 5,000 trees in 28 days. They will work to complete the Rainforest Concern scheme, which has supplied the trees through the Community Watershed Project.

Two white-collar professionals are still wanted to compete in the fight night. To volunteer call 01204 526333 or email admin@twomenplantaforest.co.uk.