AN RSPCA inspector is to swim, cycle and run 160 miles next weekend as part of a gruelling physical challenge to raise money for the animal charity she works for.

Sarah Bagley, 27, who is the local inspector for Bradford, Brighouse and Mirfield, will swim two miles across Lake Windermere in Cumbria, as part of the Great North Swim on Friday, June 12.

Then she will undertake a 140 miles coast-to-coast cycle ride from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Tynemouth in Tyneside the following day.

Finally on the Sunday she will run 18 miles from the end of the cycle section of the challenge to her parent's home in Whickham in Gateshead, where she is from.

The money raised in sponsorship will go towards the RSPCA national society and her local branches, including RSPCA Bradford and district.

She said: “Myself and my wonderful colleagues see animals in need on a daily basis be it through neglect, mistreatment or outright cruelty.

“The only way to keep helping these animals is through kind donations.

“I wanted to do something difficult, that the average person couldn’t do without considerable training, and it’s certainly involved a lot of that so far!”

Miss Bagley, who lives in Keighley, completed the Great North Swim last year and has done triathlons before but never anything on this kind of scale.

She said: “I did 120 miles on the bike last week, which took 12 hours, and ran 15 miles on Monday, which is the furthest I’ve ever run before. It went really well but of course doing the three events back-to-back, over three days, is going to be much harder, it’s definitely going to be an epic challenge.”

Miss Bagley, who has worked as an RSPCA inspector for two years, graduating from the charity's training school in April 2013, will have the help of two of her colleagues for the cycle ride, who will be acting as her support team.

She added: “The support I’ve had has been really amazing. Most of the people who have sponsored me know me, but some people who have rehomed animals rescued by the RSPCA have sponsored me too after hearing about what I’m doing.

“Everyone has been wishing me luck, offering to come and support me at the events and of course want to come to the party afterwards!”

In her time with the RSPCA she has adopted two rescue rabbits - Mikey, who was signed over to the RSPCA by his owner after being discovered wandering the streets and being fed on chapatis, and Betty who was collected as a stray.

“Working with animals has been my life’s dream,” she added.

To sponsor Miss Bagley and help her reach her £1,000 target, visit virginmoneygiving.com/sarahsepicchallenge. Her progress can be followed on social media at facebook.com/sarahsepicchallenge and twitter.com/anepicchallenge.