INTREPID challengers from a Chandler's Ford-based firm have taken to the great outdoors in the name of charity.

The 14 Alldays Stores workers scaled the highest mountains of Scotland, England and Wales in the quickest time possible.

On Thursday afternoon the clock started at the bot-tom of Ben Nevis in Scotland, followed by Scarfell Pike in England's Lake District and finally finishing at the summit of Welsh mountain Snowdon on Friday evening.

There were three teams, clocking up times of 21 hours, 17 minutes; 23 hours, 45 minutes; and 26 hours, 20 minutes.

Since March the budding mountaineers had put them-selves through a punishing training programme, which included ten-mile walks almost every week-end.

And they have shown true grit by giving up alcohol in a bid to reach the peak of fitness.

But as well as personal achievement, the overall goal is to raise as much as possible for Home-Start - the charity which helps families under stress.

Home-Start's Vivien Waterfield said: "The Three Peaks Challenge is yet another of the dedicated ways in which Alldays staff have been supporting us throughout the year. "I've been enormously impressed by the commitment the team has shown in preparing for this challenge. Their hard work will make a very real difference to young families in need."

Alldays spokeswoman Jo Boulden said: "We have now exceeded our target of £5,000 in pledges and donations and have set ourselves an even bigger target of £6,000."

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