A FORMER councillor and supermarket worker has helped raise more than £20,000 for a children's cancer charity by taking the Yorkshire Three Peaks.

Barnard Castle Morrisons customer assistant, Gary Marshall, joined more than 60 other Morrisons staff from across the country to complete the challenge in aid of Clic Sargent on Sunday, September 10.

Mr Marshall, of Barnard Castle, said he quit smoking to prepare himself for the gruelling climb and completed Phen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in about ten hours.

The father-of-two said the whole team had raised more than £11,000 which will be match funded by the supermarket and thanked residents of his home town who had donated more than £400 to him alone.

The 41-year-old said: "It was absolutely amazing; when we got to the top of Whernside the winds were reaching 60mph and you could not see your hand in front of your face."

Despite the bad weather, Mr Marshall, who previously served on Barnard Castle Town Council, said he thoroughly enjoyed the experience and renamed the peaks after his children Karl and Alison and baby Isla - who he is expecting with his partner Marie, next month.

He is also planning to climb the famous peaks again with the hope of completing the challenge in eight hours.

Donations are still being accepted until September 22 and can be made by visiting the Morrisons branch in Barnard Castle.