A BROTHER and sister from Bury took on a gruelling challenge to raise money for a local charity.

Sophie and Calvin Clayton completed the three peaks challenge last weekend in just over 23 hours.

So far the duo have raised nearly £500 for Sam's Gift, a charity which helps young cancer patients.

Miss Clayton, who lives in Ramsbottom, said it was the hardest psychical challenge she had ever done.

She explained: "It was gruelling at some points, the only thing that kept me going was the fact that we were doing it for charity.

"We didn't stop for longer than 20 seconds it was quite hard."

The pair set off up Ben Nevis near to Fort William, at 4pm last Saturday and spent four and a half hours tackling the 1,346m mountain.

A friend then drove them to the Lake District where they headed up Scafell Pike at 3.40am.

The 25-year-old explained: "The middle mountain was the toughest. The first one I was excited and then the last one you’re ready to finish and you are excited that it's nearly the end but Scafell was tough.

"I have never hiked in the dark before so that was hard and a bit scary. We had head torches on but I kept falling over and hurting myself."

The siblings negotiated the 978 m mountain in three hours, getting back down at 6.30am.

They then embarked on the final stretch of their challenge as they were driven to Snowdonia to walk the final 1,085m.

They headed up at midday and were down by 3.22pm meaning the whole challenge took 23 hours and 22 minutes.

Miss Clayton said: "It was a pretty hectic 24 hours but it was really good at the end. The feeling on the way down on the last one was brilliant.

"When I sat down on Sunday I thought I wasn’t going to be able to get up again but after that I felt fine and I wouldn't say no to doing it again.”

The pair wanted to raise money for Sam’s Gift as Mr Clayton, 23, went to school with Sam Nicholls who the charity was formed in memory of.

Sam who attended Greenhill Primary School, Bury, died in November 2014 after battling cancer and the charity was set up in his memory to help other teenagers and young adults in a similar position.

Miss Clayton said: "We thought it was a really worthwhile charity. We have both had people who have been very close to us who have suffered with cancer so we wanted to choose a charity that raised money for that.

"My brother went to school with Sam. They don't get much funding and it's a really small charity. It would be nice for them to get some support and recognition. We have been really surprised with the support we have received."

To donate visit www.gofundme.com/2adf5lo