TEN intrepid walkers from Worcestershire are set to climb the highest mountains in England, Wales and Scotland in the Three Peaks Challenge.

The team of two women and eight men are doing the walk in aid of St Richard's Hospice and will be heading to the hills at the beginning of July.

They will be tackling Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon all within 24 hours.

St Richard's fund-raiser Joanna Street, who is taking part in the challenge said: "We had some tough training walks that have just served to show us what an enormous challenge it will be to climb these peaks, one after the other, in just 24 hours.

"We all have different experiences of walking and climbing but we've already become a team and will help each other to keep going if the going gets tough. We are all just looking forward to feeling on top of the world when we've done it."

They have put themselves through some tough training sessions so they are well prepared for the total ascent of 10,500 feet and a combined walking distance of 25 miles.

The drive in between the mountains is 465 miles and a minibus and drivers will transport walkers for the entire route, leaving Worcester on Saturday, July 7 at 6am. Each participant will be collecting a minimum sponsorship of £500 for St Richard's.

Also taking part are Cheryl Peters, Barney Ashton, Phil Edwards, Phil Ruff, Michael Ruff, David Want, Eric Duncan, and Alan Widdow-son, all from Worcester, and Norman Best, who comes from Whitbourne.

St Richard's moved into its new £5.25m hospice at Wildwood Drive, Worcester at the end of last year. The new hospice contains an in-patient unit for the first time, as well as a day hospice, home care team, counselling and bereavement support.

All the services are free. Each year, St Richard's cares for in the region of 1,600 patients and families. Fund-raisers are now hard at work generating the £3.2m that needs to be raised this year to provide the continuing specialist care and support for patients and families.