PARATROOPERS are aiming to climb four peaks for charity.

Eight soldiers from Colchester-based A Company, 3rd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, will be striding up Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons as well as three other peaks - Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon.

They are aiming to complete the challenge in just 27 hours.

Team leader, Lieutenant Hugh Gillum, said: “The idea of doing a charity challenge was bouncing around the company and doing the Three Peaks was suggested, but we thought as paratroopers we could do better and added an extra mountain.

“Training has been about going out as a group to get miles in our legs with weight on our backs. I’m confident we’ll all get up the hills in record time; it is only the driving that could hold us back.”

Pen y Fan was added to the challenge as it is the highest mountain in south Wales, standing at 886 metres.

The team will walk 29 miles, ascending and descending 4,293 metres and cover 552 miles driving between the four mountains.

All money raised from the trek from July 24 to 26 will be donated to the Parachute Regiment Afghanistan Trust, which helps paratroopers and their families who have been wounded or killed out there.

Lt Gillum said: “The Afghanistan Trust is a cause that’s important for the Parachute Regiment.

“If the going gets tough, we won’t need any more motivation than to know that our efforts are supporting our own guys in need because of their service in Afghanistan.”

To sponsor the team, go to justgiving.com/acoypeaks