THREE policemen plan to take on a tough mountain challenge for charity.

The trio will take part in the Wooden Spoon Vauxhall Four Peaks Challenge which takes in the highest peaks in Scotland, Wales and Ireland together with Helvellyn in the Lake District.

Around 60 teams of three have entered this year's challenge, which will take place from June 30 to July 3 to raise money for disabled and disadvantaged children.

Mirfield community constable Pc Peter Shields, 40, and two colleagues from Dewsbury police aim to complete the marathon trek in just 48 hours.

The colleagues are 34-year-old Shaun Lewis, who lives in Huddersfield, and 25-year-old Jonathan Edgar, from Bradford. The three did the trek last year.

They will be driven on the 1,900-mile challenge by 55-year-old Mich Dearman, of Upper Hopton, in a vehicle supplied by car giant Vauxhall, the event's main sponsors.

Pc Shields said they would scale Ben Nevis in Scotland first and then grab around three hours sleep in a hotel before travelling to Helvellyn in the Lake District and Snowdon in Wales on the same day.

They will then catch a ferry from Holyhead in North Wales to Dublin and scale Carantouhill in southern Ireland.

Pc Shields said: "This final mountain is the toughest. It is very rocky terrain and when we did it last year it was raining which made it slippy.

"We have to wear crash helmets for this one as people climbing above can accidentally dislodge rocks."

The team aims to raise more than £4,000 and has appealed for sponsors.

Pc Shields said: "The event is covered by the media - especially TV - and people can sponsor us to have their logo on our T-shirts.

"We would appeal to businesses to dig deep and support us if at all possible.

"We have already staged an Irish ceilidh at our police club in Dewsbury which, with a raffle and auction, raised £1,000.

"We are now planning to literally get on our bikes to collect more cash by cycling about 100 miles visiting up to 15 police stations in our area collecting money."

In the past five years the event has raised around £2m for Wooden Spoon, the charity of British and Irish rugby union.

Anyone wanting to sponsor the team can ring Pc Shields on 07736 083690.