A BOURNE End airman has helped to raise thousands of pounds for charity by tackling the three highest mountains in Britain in just 24 hours.

Squadron leader Colin Mathieson, a member of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force based at RAF Lyneham, Wiltshire, was one of seven people to take on the Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for the Injury Minimisation Programme for Schools.

The charity, based at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, teaches children life saving skills. Earlier this month a cheque for £3,738 was presented.

The expedition in August saw the group tackle Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in Yorkshire and Snowdon in Wales within 24 hours as they raced to complete the challenge. After each peak the group had no time to rest, and had to quickly get back to their car and drive to the next mountain.

Colin, a sales director when he is not with the RAF, said: "I had no idea if I was going to do it - actually I thought I was going to fail and a mixture of exhaustion, fatigue and disappointment made those final few kilometres quite emotional. The result has been £3,738 raised for a worthwhile charity and the target to raise even more next year."