NINE friends from Felixstowe are celebrating a 40th birthday by undertaking one of UK's most gruelling fundraising challenges.The group - several of whom work for the emergency services - will be doing the National Three Peaks Challenge in aid of the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

NINE friends from Felixstowe are celebrating a 40th birthday by undertaking one of UK's most gruelling fundraising challenges.

The group - several of whom work for the emergency services - will be doing the National Three Peaks Challenge in aid of the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

They decided to make the attempt on May 23 and 24 to mark the 40th birthday of Simon Pryke, an emergency medical technician.

The challenge involves scaling the three highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales in 24 hours - starting with Ben Nevis, followed by Scafell Pike in the Lake District and finishing with a climb to the summit of Snowdon in Wales.

The team - Carl Friar, Mike Elsom, Pete Sago, Simon Pyke, Pete Game, Paul Shannon, Chris Lanyon, Simon Pryke and Julian Davis, plus their drivers Racheal Pyke and Matt White - hope to raise �1,000 for air ambulance.

Mr Friar said: “We're dreading the sleep deprivation, sore legs and blisters but have no doubt that it will also be a fantastic adventure.

“The most important thing though is that we get the whole group down all three peaks in one piece and that we meet our target of raising more than �1,000 for the air ambulance which is such an important local cause.

“We'd also like to say a big thank you to Gallagher Travel from Ipswich which is providing a minibus for the trip and to the East of England Ambulance Trust which has kindly offered to pay for the fuel.”

To support the team on the three peaks challenge, go to www.justgiving.com/eastanglianairambulance3peakschallenge .