Footballers scale three highest peaks in Britain

It might be June, but eight footballers from Shropshire were greeted by snow at the top of Ben Nevis as they completed the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge.

The eight members of Shifnal United 97 have raised £2,400 by climbing the highest peaks in Wales, England and Scotland – Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis – in the space of 24 hours.

The eight: Simon Jones, 23, Sam Wilde, 23, Rich Watts, 40, Sean Jones, 27, manager Dean Jones, 35, Tom Wood, 21, captain Stuart Polak, 29, Luke Billingham, 23 and Dan McClory, 21, will divide the money raised between the British Heart Foundation and club projects.

The first members of the group completed the walk in 22 hours 30 minutes, with the rest finishing within 20 minutes.

Simon said: "A massive thank you to committee member Rich Jones and assistant manager Rich Carless who were our drivers.

"It was very tough. All of us felt our legs burning and our knees are now shot, but on reflection it was a brilliant experience.

"We thoroughly enjoyed it – and some of us are looking into possibly doing it again.

"Ben Nevis was covered in snow, but it was the warmest. Scafell Pike and Snowdon were freezing and windy. We were blessed by the weather, though. It didn't rain once.

"We chose the British Heart Foundation because someone very close to the club underwent minor heart surgery, so it was just something very personal to us all."

Shifnal United 97 play in the Shropshire County League at Idsall School in Shifnal.