INTREPID fund-raisers Bella Price and Adam Crawford have returned home after completing a gruelling challenge for charity across the glaciers and mountains of Alaska.

The adventurous couple joined ten other people to brave the elements on the ten-day expedition and organisers believe more than £100,000 has been raised for the charity SENSE which supports deaf and blind people.

Chesham residents 28-year-old Bella and Adam, 27, had to carry heavy loads and sleep on ice during The Alaskan Wilderness Challenge 2000.

But Bella said: 'It was just completely awesome. We were were basically at the mercy of the elements. One woman did injure her ankle while we were crossing a crevasse by getting her foot stuck in a crack in the ice - but it was only a minor injury.'

She added: 'One night we were sleeping on the ice and I woke up hearing the ice cracking below. I couldn't feel my legs or arms. But as long as you looked after yourself you were safe as it never got below minus 10C.'

Bella and Adam are now planning a similar trip to Nepal next year. But for the moment they are happy to have successfully completed the Alaskan challenge.

Bella explained: 'All the participants were unanimous in their feelings of pride, sense of achievement and thanks to all those who sponsored us.'

A diary of the challenge is available on 0771 4013104. All contributions will go to SENSE.