Weekly newspaper journalists are bidding to win a sports day challenge in aid of its own charity Christmas appeal.

Maidenhead Advertiser staff will participate in games including rounders, five-a-side football, volleyball and touch rugby at the Summer Cracker Challenge this evening.

The challenge sees businesses from across the Maidenhead area compete in aid of the Advertiser’s annual Cracker Appeal.

Money raised by the appeal help to provide Christmas lunches and parties for community groups on the paper’s patch.

Deputy editor James Preston said: “We can’t wait to compete and the staff have shown unbelievable commitment to the cause.

“Just this weekend, group news editor Grace Witherden ran a marathon wearing a rucksack filled with bricks in her spare time and reporter David Lee has been cracking a dozen eggs into his protein shakes every morning.

“We can’t wait to take on the likes of Shanly, Lane4 and the Magnet and show them how it’s done.”