FIREFIGHTERS will climb the height of Everest - and slide down again - for charity.

Six firefighters will slide down a fireman's pole every minute for six hours on Friday to raise cash for Children in Need.

The pole will be set up outside Blackburn Cathedral from 3pm to 9pm.

Blackburn Fire Station Commander Chris Norse said: "The pole is 20ft long so we will have to cover 120ft each minute to get the 29,039ft covered in the time.

"That means getting six firemen down the pole every minute if we are to finish in time.

"This is the second year we have done something like this and we are hoping to raise as much as we did last year, which was almost £5,000."

Accrington fire brigade are bringing a fire engine along to the event.

Scaffolding has been provided by R Heaton Scaffolding of Blackburn and several local firms have offered sponsorship. Anyone wanting to sponsor the team can ring 01254 52111.

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