A GROUP of marathon hill walkers from Shobdon raised more than £3,5000 for St Michael's Hospice – despite having their weekend charity event challenged by severe weather.

Colin Payne, former managing director of Shobdon-based Craven Grain Ltd, died at St Michael’s Hospice in 2014.

His sons Dale and Darren, together with work colleagues Alex Rumsey, Andrew Sheers, Lucy Sheers and Greg Taylor, decided to take on the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge in memory of Colin and to raise much-needed funds for the hospice.

The challenge consisted of climbing the UK’s three highest peaks within 24 hours, starting with Ben Nevis in Scotland at 4,413 feet, then Scafell Pike in the Lake District of Cumbria at 3,209 feet and finally Mount Snowdon in Wales at 3,560 feet.

Alex Rumsey, one of the event organisers, said: "It was a fantastic experience for us all. We were met with some tricky conditions – but pressed on regardless. St Michael’s is a cause that is very close to all of us and it has been a privilege to support their work."