A RAMSBOTTOM estate agent has scaled the French Alps on her bike this summer to raise money for charity.

Melanie Duffin, who owns Lifestyle Sales and Lettings, in Whalley Road, took on stage 10 of this year's prestigious cycling race, from Annecy to Grand-Bornand, in southern France, last month.

Known as the Étape du Tour, the annual event allows amateur cyclists to cycle the same route as elite athletes.

Ms Duffin had trained for the 169-km challenge alongside her partner, Dominique, and all the hours on the road appeared to have paid off as she completed the challenge in less than nine hours.

This was despite a number of falls, including one where she was sent flying over a wall after travelling round a corner at speed.

Her motivation for taking on the challenge was to raise money and awareness for a rare disease called progressive supranuclear palsy, also known as PSP, which her stepfather suffered from.

And although she only raised £1,250 of her £1,500, Ms Duffin says she is still happy to have raised money and awareness to tackle the disease.