LITTER pickers have been out in force over to clean up Winter Hill, ahead of an annual charity fell running race.

Lostock A.C. members took to Winter Hill on Sunday to clear their route for the Leo Pollard memorial fell race due to take place on June 6.

Mark Shuttleworth said that the litter pick was a "thank you" to the Smithills Estate for allowing the race to be run through land belonging to the estate.

The volunteers were out again yesterday evening, this time clearing litter on the mast road to the trig point, behind the mast.

The memorial fell race honours Lostock' A.C.'s late honorary life president, Leo Pollard. Mr Pollard died after a short illness early last year, but had been running with the Lostock club since the 1990s. He also boasted the achievement of running the Rivington Pike Race more than 20 times throughout his life.

All the money raised from the charity race is donated to Bolton Mountain Rescue.

The race costs just £4 to enter and will leave from Rivington Upper Barn. The race is seven miles long from the mast to the pike, with an 1,500ft ascent.