How I stood at jaws of Etna inferno

Peter Leathams, 44, reached the 11,000 feet summit of Europe's largest and most active volcano just weeks before the Sicilian town of Catania was covered in lava yet again.

He was safely home in Spring Meadows, Darwen, by the time a state of emergency was declared in Sicily as 1,000 people fled their homes.

But he has no regrets and is already planning more adventures.

He said: "We passed a couple of poisonous snakes on the way up and we were so busy thinking about those that it didn't event enter our minds that the volcano could erupt at any time!"

It took Peter and two friends eight hours to reach the summit. In the process he raised more than £3,000 for 'When You Wish Upon a Star', a charity which grants wishes for children with life threatening or terminal illnesses.

Peter added: "The climb was quite something and the views were amazing. I'm so proud that I alone have raised over £3,000 for such a worthwhile cause.

"It's given me such a sense of achievement that I'm already looking out for other ventures to raise money.

"I do lots of walking in the Lake District but don't think anything could have prepared me for the experience of climbing Mount Etna, which took us eight hours in total.

"The altitude was the biggest challenge as it's so hard to catch your breath."

Mount Etna is regarded to be one of the most active volcanoes in the world and constantly rumbles. Vulcanologists have warned that it is gradually becoming more explosive and dangerous.

Before this week, its last eruption was August 2001. The tremors on Tuesday hit 4.3 on the Richter scale.

Peter's bosses at Barnsley-based Hepworth Building Products have praised him for his achievement.

Antonio Garrido, sales director, said: "We all admire Peter and are proud that our employees are willing to take part in such perilous acts, and that the rest of the staff were pleased to help raise impressive sums of money for such worthwhile causes."