A group of intrepid explorers put themselves through a gruelling five peak challenge across the UK last week to raise money for charity.

The seven – including four from Havering – climbed peaks in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in less than 60 hours.

Danny McEvoy, 26, from Hornchurch, led the group through the endurance feat in which they had hardly any sleep.

He said: “It was unbelievably difficult, we’d done the three peaks two years before but we didn’t know how difficult five was going to be.

“We had a nightmare when we were on Ben Nevis, we got caught in a really heavy storm at two o clock in the morning and couldn’t see more than a couple of feet in front of us.

“We were about ready to give up. But in the end it was great, it was well worth it.”

Joining Danny on the trip was his dad – PJ McEvoy, and his old school friends from The Campion School, Wingletye Lane, Denis Gleeson and John Carter, as well as friends Clare Connaghan, and Rob and Catherine McCartney from Redbridge.

The trip was in aid of First Step, the Hornchurch based charity for children with special needs, and the HCPT Group 206, which takes children with special needs on trips to Lourdes, France.

They were leant a minibus by The Campion School for who Danny expressed the group’s thanks.

Having already raised �3,000 and with another �1,000 promised by John’s company Shroeders, the group is hopeful it can reach its target of �5,000.

To donate visit www.charitygiving.co.uk/5peakschallenge.