TELEVISION star Ross Kemp is encouraging people to get Up, Down & Dirty for a good cause next month.

The EastEnders actor turned author and journalist is famous for his interest in physical fitness and the armed forces.

Now he has given his backing to a new muddy run challenge raising funds for Bishop's Hull-based St Margaret’s Hospice.

Ross has posted a photo of himself wearing an Up, Down & Dirty T-shirt on Twitter, telling his 179,000 followers: "Looking for a fitness challenge? Why not sign up to run, jog or walk 5, 10 or 15k? Great fun and you can support @st_marg at the same time!"

Looking for a fitness challenge? Why not sign up to run, jog or walk 5,10 or 15k. Great fun and you can support @st_marg at the same time! https://t.co/jlGcGQR0M8 pic.twitter.com/KaDfD3OWsC

Designed to cater for all fitness levels, Up, Down & Dirty offers a choice of Fun 5k, Tempting 10k and Filthy 15k routes with a variety of obstacles along the way.

The event is taking place at Treborough, in the Brendon Hills, on Sunday, October, 28, and Aldon, Yeovil, on Sunday, November 18.

Participants are encouraged to raise sponsorship for St Margaret’s, which needs to raise more than £9.5 million a year to fund its end of life care services for people across Somerset.

Up, Down & Dirty at Treborough is sponsored by Western Power Distribution, which earlier this year ran a volunteering scheme that saw apprentices renovate the charity’s retail distribution warehouse and collect donations worth around £65,000 from households in Somerset.

It comes after the charity’s Glitter Run events in Taunton and Wincanton this summer raised a total of £100,000 through sponsorship and merchandise sales – enough to pay for four days of care at the hospice’s in-patient units and in the community.

Clare Gallie, director of fundraising, marketing and communications at St Margaret’s, said: "We’re delighted that Ross Kemp is backing our new Up, Down & Dirty challenge and look forward to as many people as possible joining us to get muddy while supporting their local hospice this autumn.

"There’s still plenty of time to get training, but you don’t have to be a fitness fanatic to join in the fun. Why not challenge your friends and colleagues to get involved?"

Last year St. Margaret’s Hospice supported more than 3,800 people affected by life-limiting illnesses across Somerset.

For more information or to book your place at Up, Down & Dirty, visit www.st-margarets-hospice.org.uk/up-down-and-dirty or call 0845-3459671.