A FATHER and son braved freezing temperatures and scaled new heights for charity.

Pharmacist Anil Gandecha, 53, and son Anish, 18, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, raising about £3,000 for the Stroke Association.

Mr Gandecha, who runs AMG Pharmacy, AG Pharmacy and Medipharm Pharmacy in Braintree, chose the charity because his father died following a stroke.

He and his son, both of Coggeshall Road, Braintree, had trained every night in preparation for the 19,330ft climb.

Mr Gandecha said: “It was very tough, both physically and mentally, and the weather reached temperatures of minus 20 degrees.”

Donations can still be made online at www.justgiving.com/gandechakilimanjarotrek or can be posted to AMG Pharmacy, 70 Coggeshall Road, Braintree, Essex, CM7 9BY.