A TEAM of athletic firefighters have braved the elements to complete a three peaks challenge in a heart-thumping time.

Two Chorley officers took time out from their usual duties for the race up Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon.

And they were rewarded with a gold medal for their efforts, after finishing the race in less than 20 hours.

The officers -- Steve Gregory and Steve Prescott -- joined a four-strong team from Skelmersdale for the race, to raise money for the Fire Service Benevolent Fund.

Steve Gregory, 27, of Gillibrand Walks, Chorley, said: "We were quite lucky with the weather and everything, but it was a bit of a slog! We started at Ben Nevis and then we get a certain amount of time to drive to Scafell, then to Snowdon."

Around 60 teams from the fire service joined in the event. Teams finishing in less than 24 hours were rewarded with a bronze medal, those coming in at under 22 hours got silver, and anyone breaking the magic 20 hour mark got a gold medal.

And the team, who finished in 19 hours 50 minutes, had moral support from a special mascot, Blaze Bear.

The cuddly bear is the mascot for the benevolent fund, and is used to comfort child victims of fires.

Steve said: "If we go to a fire and there are kids involved we give them Blaze Bear.

"We take him on all our challenges, so we had to take him on this one. I had him on my back for two of the peaks!

"The challenge is excellent. We got started and realised that we could get a good time. As soon as we started we got a bit of momentum going, and on the last peak we really went for it. It was a bit more of a challenge then!

"It's the first time we have done it, so we're really pleased."