The Pendle Hill event will help raise cash for a new building to accommodate the team's vehicles and gear. Photo: RPMRT

It was the haunt of the notorious 17th century practitioners of magic and curses and now a Pennine hill could see 1,000 modern day witches gather again on its summit.

But the sponsored June event on Pendle Hill in Lancashire should spell only good news for a mountain rescue team.

Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team is aiming to get 1,000 people on top of the 557m (1,827ft) fell to help them raise cash for a new base.

The team has issued a challenge to supporters to join them on the summit on 11 June and help the volunteer rescuers get a new building big enough to house their vehicles and equipment. The mountain rescue team, which covers the high Pennine fells in the North-East of Greater Manchester and in East Lancashire, has outgrown its base in Haslingden.

The event starts in the village of Barley

Though witches’ outfits are not obligatory for walkers on the event, there will be a prize for the best witch’s costume.

A live band and DJ will also perform on the summit and all participants will get a commemorative t-shirt. The Pendle 1000 Challenge begins in the village of Barley at 9am on the day.

More details are on the Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team’s website.

The Pendle area has had an association with witches since the trial of 12 practitioners of the craft in 1612 which resulted in 10 of them being hanged.