A BLACKBURN accountant is teeing up to take part in a round-the-clock charity golf challenge on some of the world's most northerly courses.

And the gruelling 24-hour competition - which incorporates 90 holes and 17 miles of trekking from tees to greens - will take place under the midnight sun in Iceland.

Mark Maden-Wilkinson, a partner at Pierce Business Advisers and Chartered Accountants, is set to play in the Ultimate Golf Challenge next month.

The fundraising tournament is organised by the Wooden Spoon Society, which was formed 20 years ago to help disadvantaged children across the country.

Mark is part of a team of six Lancashire businessmen taking part in the event being staged on June 12, which also includes Andy Atkinson who is the franchisee of the KFC fast food outlet in Mellor.

Along with 76 other fundraisers, they aim to collect more than £1,500 each for the charity, which raises up to £30,000 a week for children and young people with special needs.

During the gruelling 24-hour competition, the golfers will play five rounds of the most testing golf courses in the world, near to the capital Reykjavik.

The challenging itinerary incorporates 90 holes, walking 29,320 yards from the tees to the greens - almost 17 miles - and avoiding the 236 bunkers dotted around the lunar landscape.

"I've been in training for this event which is going to be very challenging indeed," said Mark, who has been involved with the Wooden Spoon Society for several years.

"I've got £4,000 already, but I'm trying to raise as much money as possible."