Volunteers from Portishead's lifeboat are climbing the UK's three highest mountains over the next two days to raise money for the life-saving charity.

Crew members Sherri Hough-Kibberd, Jon Colwill, Neville Coleske, Simon Gotobed, Tony Daw and Andy Allen plus support crew are taking on the Three Peaks Challenge – to climb the three highest mountains in the UK within 24 hours.

The team travelled to Fort William early yesterday and are due to start climbing Ben Nevis at noon. They will then move on to Skafell Pike in the Lake District before finally climbing Snowdon in North Wales.

They will cover 26 miles on foot, climb more than 10,000ft and drive hundreds of miles between the peaks.

Portishead Lifeboat Trust coxswain, Andy Allen, aged 50, said: "It was Sherri who came up with the idea because her partner is in the army and had done the Three Peaks Challenge and said he really enjoyed it.

"We thought it would be a good way for us to raise some money for the trust."

Anyone who wants to sponsor the crew can log on to www.portishead-lifeboat.org.uk,