MILES were run and mountains climbed as people got active to support this year's record-breaking Sport Relief effort.

Every two years theBritish public are encouraged to have some sporty fun while raising cash to help people living incredibly tough lives both in the UK and around the world, and from Friday to Sunday local people did their bit to help raise a record £51.2 million.

More than 120 hardy souls, both young and old, braved chilly conditions today (Sunday) at Worcester's Perdiswell Leisure Centre, Bilford Road, for the Sports Relief Games, where they ran, jogged or walked their way around one, three or six-mile routes.

Fund-raisers at Sport Martley, near Worcester, showed they had a real head for heights during the 12-hour Mammoth Mountain Climb on the artificial climbing wall from 6am to 6pm on Saturday.

A team of about 80 climbers completed a staggering 1,265 climbs, which means they effectively went above and beyond the peak of Mount Everest.

The centre's duty manager, Sean Mitchell, said: "It has been really successful. Our original target was 481 climbs, or the equivalent of Mont Blanc, but we smashed it before 12.

"It is the first time we have done something for Sport Relief and to raise that much money and see everyone, especially the kids, get involved, it has been really nice."

Bishop Perowne CE College hosted several fund-raising activities on Friday, including Sport Relief themed lessons, and is hopeful of matching last year’s figure of £1,200 with funds still coming in.

Pupils, who wore red clothes in exchange for a £1 donation, took part in a fun run, trampolining sessions and an ‘El Clasico’ football tournament to coincide with the weekend’s La Liga clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Members of the college’s four communities, Duckworth, Fearnley, Perrins and Tilley, brought in home-made cakes to sell at break times and there was also a bake off between GCSE food technology students.

Cider apples were traded for trainers and high-vis vests when staff at Westons Cider of Much Marcle, near Ledbury, set off for a two-mile circuit around the Herefordshire cider mill, known locally as Round the Rock, raising £70.12 in the process.

All the activities centred around the live broadcast on BBC on Friday night, with a show that included David Beckham making a guest appearance in an Only Fools and Horses sketch and Coldplay performing live in the studio.

While One Show presenter Alex Jones climbed a 1,200ft sheer rock face and Tour de France winner and Olympian Sir Bradley Wiggins made a guest appearance on BBC Radio 4's the Archers.

  • See tomorrow's Worcester News for a two-page spread of Sport Relief photos.