HIGH Bentham resident, inspirational speaker, record-setting endurance athlete and published author Andy Mouncey is setting up his own business.

After 14 years of professional speaking, training, coaching and physical therapy with a wide range of clients in sport, education and business in this country and abroad, Andy has decided to put down some roots and build a local base for his business at Ingleton's i centre - on the site of the former middle school.

His decision was influenced in part by the success of a unique programme he designed and tested last winter based on his attempt to finish the UK’s most brutal ultramarathon The Spine Race: 268 miles south to north on The Pennine Way as continuously as possible in the dark and cold of January.

Pupils in schools along the route were challenged by Andy to run their own cumulative 268 miles and raise money for Sport Relief. In return Andy taught them how to think and act like an endurance athlete so that they were better prepared to face their own challenges in school and beyond.

By the end of the programme, 1,600 pupils from 12 schools had run 4,562 miles and raised £7,200 for charity.

Settle College was part of the pilot and has now secured lottery funding to run an expanded version of the programme with Andy during this school year.

"It’s an exciting and challenging opportunity," said Andy. "It means I’ll be spending quite a bit of time at the college. It was another reason to look and think local and the i centre fits the bill.’

Hisnew business, Fitness Fix, will help local people who are already in shape to get even fitter, those who are inactive to get started and those who are in pain to feel easier.

He will offer a range of services, including coaching and mentoring for competitions, sport and body massage for pain relief and enhanced recovery and coaching for lifestyle balance, transition and weight management

Rosemary Hartley, from the i centre, said: "We are delighted that Andy is opening his new business at the i centre. It is a perfect fit with the on-site gym, pilates studio and other health and wellbeing activities going on at the centre. I am sure those involved will collaborate and bring many benefits to the area."