A NEW business is aiming to add another string to Cumbria's bow when it comes to being the adventure capital of the UK.

Two avid archers have painstakingly created a woodland course, the likes of which cannot be found anywhere else in the county.

Martin Leonard and Ian Robinson, of Northern Archery, have designed an archery facility in a patch of woodland at Greenlands Farm Village, Carnforth, and they are hoping to shoot to notoriety when it officially opens this weekend.

Mr Robinson, 49, from Hest Bank, said: "It's absolutely great that it's now up and running - it's been a lot of hard work and it's good to see it pay off."

Northern Archery has also secured the use of roughly 180 acres around the woods and can offer an indoor facility too.

The course includes 3D targets, such as a life-like panther and a wild boar, and there is scope for traditional target archery classes as well as field archery.

But, uniquely, the pair are hoping to introduce 'archery wars' - this would see two teams take each other on in a heavily-regulated combat scenario using full protective gear and blunted arrows, something that is not on offer anywhere in the North West.

It is aimed at business-related team-building exercises, stag or hen parties and birthday parties.

Mr Leonard, a Great Britain Level 1 coach, said: "There's nothing like this anywhere else. Target archery is exciting but this is a whole different level."

Both archers shoot for Cumbria and do a lot of work with local primary schools and they are hoping their new venture can benefit youngsters from across the region.

"The good thing is it's a leveller," said Mr Leonard, 56.

"It's not necessarily the most sporty kids who are the best archers - sometimes the less athletic children shine through.

"It teaches them mathematical skills, concentration, discipline, we're very focussed on health and safety and it gets them outdoors - these are all skills that they can use in later life."

He also believes it could be 'a really amazing experience' for disabled children as well.

Getting into archery can be expensive and time consuming, with interested parties normally having to join a club and pay membership fees as well as purchasing their own equipment - but Northern Archery is hoping to make the sport more accessible to all by offering a 'pay-as-you-go' option and providing the gear themselves.

For more information visit www.northernarchery.co.uk or contact either 07984 498003 or 07928 629605