FAMILY and friends of a devotee of the Settle-Carlisle line gathered at Ribblehead Viaduct on Friday to dedicate a plaque in his memory.

Clifford Coates was a builder from Oxenhope who died in August 2005, aged 75.

He admired all aspects of the work which went into the creation of the famous line, but was particularly impressed with the viaduct's brickwork and craftsmanship.

His daughter, Caroline, family and friends raised money for the plaque through a walk along the length of the line last year.

Around £6,700 was raised and any surplus will be donated to Airedale Hospital, Marie Curie Nurses and Oxenhope Recreational Football Club.

The plaque has been erected by the Friends of the Settle-Carlisle line and records the monumental effort in building the viaduct, locomotive depot, brickworks and workers' camps.

The viaduct was completed in 1875 and took more than five years to build. The line itself was opened in 1876 and celebrated its 130th anniversary last year.

The Friends will also benefit from three sponsored walks.

Mr Coates' daughter, Caroline, and son Jonathan will walk the Dales Way with friends between July 5 and 10 and will later complete two walks in London.

The proceeds will be split between the Friends, Maggie's Centres Cancer Care, Alive and Kicking (footballs to Africa), and Oxenhope Recreational Football Cub.