A TEAM of firefighters are taking on the National Three Peaks challenge to raise funds for charity.

The National Three Peaks challenge is an attempt to climb the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales in less than 24 hours.

Allendale Crew Manager Dave Habberjam and firefighters Dave Stevenson, Mike Harding, James Birchall, Graeme Gowland and Megan Coburn will be joined by Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service Deputy Chief Fire Officer Graeme Binning and Steven Blair, the general manager at The Twice Brewed Inn, when they undertake the challenge next Friday (September 3).

They are raising money for The Fire Fighters Charity, which provides personalised support for serving and retired fire service personnel and their families.

So far, they have raised more than £1,800.

Dave Stevenson, who is the firefighters' charity representative at Allendale, said when he first suggested they complete the challenge, "everybody just looked at me as if I'd gone completely mad and then went 'yeah, actually it sounds like a really good idea'".

He added: "We're just a group of lads and lasses who do our job and we just decided to go and do this for charity.

"We're all looking forward to it. I think there will be some aching bodies and sore feet by the end of it!"

Transport for the challenge is being donated by Baynes Travel. Firefighter Nigel Baynes and retired crew manager Joe Heslop will be the team's drivers.

The team are also being supported by The Allendale Cooperative Society, Paul Gowland ATV and The Twice Brewed Inn.

"We've had a really good response from the local community," Dave said.

The team aim to start the challenge at the foot of Ben Nevis at 5pm on Friday September 3, hiking to the peak and then back down by 10pm.

They will then travel to The Lake District, hopefully arriving before 4am on September 4, before ascending Scafell Pike.

Finally, they will then set off to Wales at 8am to start the ascent of Snowdon by 1pm. They will then aim to climb up and back down before the 24 hour period elapses at 5pm.

The total walking distance is 23 miles and the total ascent is 10,052ft.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Graeme Binning said: "I can't wait. It's a lovely thing to be part of.

"I've only been with Northumberland Fire and Rescue for the last nine months so to be involved in these things so early on is really special for me."

On The Fire Fighters Charity, Graeme said: "It runs through the heart of everything the fire and rescue service is about.

"It's a real critical charity for us and people are really committed to supporting it wherever possible.

"It's close to everyone's heart and it's never far away from our charitable thinking."

To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/allendale-fire-crew