CYCLISTS from all over Britain are gearing up for this Sunday's Lancashire Road Club Hill Climb in Ramsbottom.

Forty-five riders will take on the 947-yard time-trial course in a bid to claim the £600 first prize.

Southport's Jim Henderson, the current British hill climb champion, will be aiming to retain his Lancashire Road Club title, which he has won five times.

Angela Hunter, a former 10-mile and 50-mile British time trial champion, will also be competing for honours.

The race, organised by the Bolton-based Lancashire Road Cycling Club, will see riders set off at one-minute intervals.

Organisers have offered £100 to any competitor who beats the current men's record of 3mins 30secs, and £20 to any cyclist who beats the women's record of 2mins 14secs.

The race is sponsored by Bury Metro, with support from Geoff Smith Cycles in Bolton.

Cllr Barry Briggs, the Mayor of Bury, will present the prizes at the Shoulder of Mutton pub afterwards.

Race spokesman Peter Graham said: "We've just had it confirmed that, pounds per yard, this is the richest bike race in the world.

"The winner gets £600 for cycling 947 yards, which is more money per yard than Lance Armstrong gets for winning the Tour de France."

The roads in Ramsbottom town centre will be closed to traffic between 11.45am and 12.45pm on Sunday, with the race getting under way at 12 noon.

Graham added: "We're all looking forward to the race, and the organisers would like to thank the residents of Ramsbottom for being so considerate over the road closures."