THREE Peaks challengers at Swindon College have smashed their £5,000 fundraising target - before setting foot on a hill.

The Uniformed Public Services students are preparing to climb the three highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales - Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon - in less than 24 hours on March 29 and 30.

The group of first and second year BTEC National Diploma students aged 16 to 18 have already hit their fundraising target.

So far they have raised £5,700 for Swindon's two NSPCC branches.

Some of the cash will also go towards buying equipment for underprivileged students at the college.

Student Sam Walton, 18, from Purton, said: "It's just around the corner now so we're bricking it a bit but we're confident we'll pull each other through.

"We have all trained really hard and we all want to complete it so nothing is really stopping us."

The challengers have been fully kitted out for the trek after the college donated £1,200.

The group has been preparing for challenge with twice weekly visits to the gym and regular training walks.

The group will start the ascent of Ben Nevis at 3am on March 29 followed by a drive to Scafell Pike in the Lake District and finishing on Mount Snowdon in Wales.

The group is still looking for donations, sponsorship or equipment that could help them with the challenge. Anyone who would like to make a donation or sponsor the group can contact Paul Holland on 01793 498626 or paulholland@swindon-college.ac.uk