The owner of two popular Ulverston pubs is to set sail with his two brothers next month to raise money for the oldest charity which helps those in the licensed trade who have fallen on hard times.

Roger Chattaway, 40, who owns the Farmer's Arms and the Rose and Crown, and his two brothers, Stephen, 43, and John, 39, are taking part in the Warsteiner Beer Sea Challenge to support the Society of Licensed Victuallers, SLV.

It is the first time the challenge has been held and involves sailing the 50-foot yacht, Ice Maiden, around the coast of England and Wales in seven two-day legs.

The three brothers from Barrow, who are all qualified yachtsmen and trained chiefs, are to complete the first stretch from Grimsby to St Catherine's Dock in London in August.

The UK's main distributor of top German beer Warsteiner, Blackburn brewers, is sponsoring the three-man team.

All the proceeds from the event will go to the SLV, which helps retired licenses who have fallen on hard times by finding them homes and helping them financially.

Roger Chattaway said: "To earn our passage we each have to raise sponsorship to help the SLV.

It's an exciting event and we are all experienced sailors but we have never sailed the particular stretch allocated to us.

"It sounds like a great event to me, it will certainly make a change from racing on Windermere."