A RALLYING call has gone out to the Barrow public to back next week's soapbox derby.

The first-ever Super Soapbox Challenge, set to take place on Saturday June 29, will see more than 20 teams charge down Dalton Road in handmade karts.

Some of the teams signed up so far include Furness College, BAE Systems, CM Oxendale, Jost UK, Carefree Travel, Gas Water Heating, Orsted, Oxley Group, Lancaster and Morecambe College, Sinkfall Recycling, Scott Hartley, Mike Crowe Building and Construction, Cumbrian Roofing Solutions, Adam Sinker, The Forum, Vestas Offshore Wind, Little Tony’s Tyre Shop and Holker Estates.

Each team will have three attempts at the course with their fastest time going onto the leaderboard before the grand final decides the overall winner.

Ski jump legend Eddie the Eagle has thrown his backing behind the racing spectacle, which has been organised by Barrow’s Business Improvement District, with the 1988 Olympic hopeful to be the first to shoot down the ramp at the top of Dalton Road at 10am.

With just over a week to go until the big day town centre businesses are urging customers to show out in force next Saturday.

Gawain Steel, director of operations at the Townhouse, said the Soapbox Derby could become one of the biggest dates in Barrow's calendar.

"The Barrow BID team has done a fantastic job in bringing such a fantastic event to the town," he said.

"With the backing of the public the Soapbox Derby will be a phenomenal day which the whole community can enjoy."