A MAJOR fundraising event will take place in the New Forest next month in aid of the area's only hospice.

The annual Bike & Hike Charity Challenge will be staged on October 3 - and is expected to raise thousands of pounds for Oakhaven Hospice at Lymington.

Entarants will again include Sir John Curtiss, chairman of the hospice.

An Oakhaven spokesman said: "During the past three years he has successfully steered the hospice through difficult times, so this should be an easy challenge - a 15- mile cycle ride with his team of six friends and family.

"He has personally raised over £5,000 in sponsorship since 2001 and has already been promised more than £1,000 for this year's Bike & Hike.''