Chefs from top Ilkley restaurant The Box Tree will head for the hills aboard mountian bikes to raise money for a hospice.

Better known for his fine cuisine, head chef and prop-rietor Simon Gueller will be part of a three-man team from the Michelin-starred resturant to take on the Bronte Big K Mountain Bike Challenge next month.

The bike ride, with a choice of three routes named after the Bronte sisters, aims to raise more than £10,000 in aid of Sue Ryder Care Manorlands Hospice, Oxenhope. The hospice provides specialise palliative care for people with cancer or other life-limiting illnesses from Wharfe-dale, Airedale, Craven and Bradford.

Mr Gueller will be joined on the ride by the Church Street restaurant’s general manager, Andrew Pratt, and sous chef Simon Davis.

The three are keen to raise money for the hospice, which cares for more than 600 people each year. As well as the team taking part in the bike ride, the Box Tree will be asking diners to help the hospice.

The restaurant’s directors have agreed to add a discretionary £1 surcharge to each bill at the restaurant this month and next.

Manorlands fundraiser Andrew Wood said: “We are delighted with this support from the team at the Box Tree and hope that their exploits will encourage others from the Ilkley area to enter our bike challenge.”

All three routes start and finish in Oxenhope.

Participants are asked to enter either in advance by collecting an entry form from the Box Tree or by entering online at suerydercare.org/brontebike challenge.