A fighting fit quartet from the Leicester Mercury is attempting the Three Peaks challenge today to raise money for local charities.

Reporter Oliver Wright will join photographers Alistair Langham, Andy Baker and Alex Hannam in a bid to climb Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell Pike in just 24 hours.

They will have to climb 3,407 metres, walk more than 23 miles and drive 400 miles between the three mountains.

They will start the challenge at Ben Nevis at teatime today and expect to reach Scafell Pike by first light tomorrow morning.

Andy Baker, Oliver Wright and Alistair Langham (back row, centre to right) and Alex Hannam (red top) prepare for the Three Peaks challenge

If all goes well they will have conquered Snowdon by tomorrow evening.

The foursome, joined by five of their friends, are raising money for Leicester's Loros hospice, Breast Cancer Care Glenfield and When You Wish Upon a Star, a charity that makes dreams come true for ill children in the region.

Alistair said: "We've all been training for months to tackle the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales.

"Some of the nine climbers have had experience through relatives and friends of the organisations so it's a labour of love – a way of saying thank you and enabling them to keep up the good work."

To sponsor the team visit their online fund-raising page.

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