SKIPTON businessman Andrew Mear has helped to raise more than £2,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance after completing the National Three Peaks in less than 24 hours.

He joined schoolfriendsJohn Butler, Nick Hall, Edward Glass and Martin Sykes to tackle Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in the Lake District and Snowdonia in Wales in 23 hours, 13 minutes.

The friends - all former pupils of Hipperholme Grammar School - decided to tackle the Three Peaks for Yorkshire Air Ambulance as Mr Butler’s father was rescued by the emergency service last year. He suffered a heart attack while out sailing in the Lake District and was rushed to hospital where he was treated.

Mr Mear, who owns High Corn Mill in Skipton, said: “It was extremely tough, especially when we arrived at Ben Nevis and it was throwing it down. It was snowing at the top so we couldn’t see a thing, which slowed us down. We shared the driving between us but it was still tiring work.

“It was all worth it though. Raising over £2,000 is a fantastic achievement. We’d like to thank everyone who has supported us, and this very worthy service, which has rescued thousands of people, including John’s dad, from potentially fatal situations.”

This is the second year the group has taken on a charity challenge having completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks in 2013 in eight hours. They plan to make their fundraising trips an annual affair.