ONE man is steeling himself for the challenge of `legging' solo through Standedge Tunnel.

Nigel Dix, a member of the Horseboating Society, will be using only his legs to propel an old-fashioned canal boat through the Standedge Tunnel from Marsden to Diggle tomorrow.

His challenge comes hot on the heels of last week's charity event by two teams of tunnel leggers.

They were raising money for the West Yorkshire Forget-Me-Not Trust and also promoting the Horseboating Society.

They legged from Diggle to Marsden and it was the first time the tunnel had been legged in over 50 years.

In days gone by, horses used to tow boats from the canalside but could not pass through tunnels like Standedge.

Instead, they were walked over the hill while the boat crew moved the craft through the tunnel by lying on their backs and pushing against the tunnel walls with their legs.

It could take hours for a crew to `leg' their way through the cramped, dark tunnel.

Mr Dix is taking on the task to raise money for Kirkwood Hospice at Dalton.

A team of volunteers will also leg the tunnel behind him on a British Waterways boat to raise further cash for the hospice.

Mr Dix and the hospice team will leave Standedge Visitor Centre at Marsden at 2pm.

They will be seen off by Kirklees Mayor Clr Margaret Fearnley as the hospice is one of her two chosen charities for her year in office.

Her other is the West Yorkshire Forget-Me-Not Trust, which aims to build a children's hospice in Kirklees and Calderdale.

Entertainment will be provided for visitors who come to wish the teams luck.

Boat trips into the tunnel will run from 10.15am and from noon to 4pm there will be activities in the visitor centre.

These will include clog dancing, children's games, canalware painting, harness making, rope tying and talks about the canal and tunnel by experts wearing authentic costumes from the canal's golden era.

Members of Huddersfield Canal Society will also be there to talk about the history of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal's restoration.