CHIPPENHAM firefighters will be climbing Everest later this month, without even leaving the town.

The team will be taking on a ladder climb challenge, on August 31, equivalent to the 8,848m height of the famous Himalayan mountain, in Chippenham High Street, with the aim of raising as much money as possible for two good causes.

Watch Manager Steve Lodge said: “The money we collect will be shared between the Fire Fighters Charity, a fantastic organisation that helps both uniformed and non-uniformed personnel of all Fire & Rescue Services across the country, and Alabaré.

“This charity runs a supported housing scheme in Chippenham, called Unity House, for people who are homeless, and staff at the fire station have worked with Unity House to develop schemes to help their clients.”

“The climb is due to start at 10am and will go on until the target has been reached.

“We’d ask anyone out and about in Chippenham on the day to come along, give us a cheer and pop a donation into one of the collection buckets, to support our causes.

“Our ladders are only 10 metres so we have a lot of ascents and descents to make!”