A Lake District charity challenge will return this spring, with organisers hoping that 2017 will be the biggest event yet.

Walking With The Wounded’s annual Cumbrian Challenge takes place on Friday May 12 and Saturday 13, with up to 800 people expected to take part.

Now in its fifth year, last year's record entry of 160 teams raised more than £140,000 to support vulnerable veterans get back into employment.

There are three different walking routes to choose from - a single-peak 16km walk, a 23km walk that takes in three peaks, and the toughest being a 29km walk over four peaks.

Each team is challenged to fundraise at least £1,000 in advance, engaging their friends, families, employers and colleagues. The money will go towards supporting a wounded veteran back into work.

At the finish line last year, competitors were cheered home by the public, along with WWTW staff and beneficiaries.

Lead sponsors once again are BAE Systems, in Barrow. Ian Lofthouse, director of nuclear integration, said: "The reason we got involved with WWTW and particularly the Cumbrian Challenge, is because I spent 35 years as a nuclear submariner in the Royal Navy and we’re really keen to do more to show that the Armed Forces covenant is more than just a piece of paper.

"We want to demonstrate how we support the Armed Forces when they leave and start to look at work in industry.”

Teams of four - made up of workmates, families and groups of friends - can choose one of the three routes, walking alongside beneficiaries of the military charity.

Glen Pilkington, head of HR at AEGIS London, said: "We keep coming back to this event as it is an excellent challenge with clear outcomes supporting veterans who have walked in far more difficult locations than this.

"Undertaking the event with work colleagues is great fun and helps to build our own internal professional relationships."

Walking With The Wounded's Cumbrian Challenge returns on Friday May 12 and Saturday 13. For more information, visit walkingwiththewounded.org.uk