A BUNCH of brave rugby fans earned a celebratory ‘scrum and black’ after succeeding in an unusual charity fund-raiser over the snow-capped Malvern Hills.

The Bar Leaners lived up to their name last weekend by walking eight miles over the fells while carrying a mobile bar.

The intrepid group battled snow, strong winds and freezing temperatures as they lifted the full-size bar from the Malvern Hills Hotel to the Nag’s Head in Malvern.

The friends are now hoping their hard work will be converted into thousands of pounds for cancer charity Macmillan Cancer Support.

Bar Leaners member Farmer Parker said the trek was exhausting but worthwhile.

“It went really well but it was in very tough conditions,” he said.

“We had a lot of support from family and friends and members of the public, too.

“We like to do a bit for charity but this is the biggest thing we’ve done.”

He said the group had raised about £6,000 already with more money to come in.

Macmillan has since praised the group’s “tremendous effort”.

“We always appreciate people doing extreme challenges and this was definitely one of those,” said the charity’s fund-raising manager, Jenny Goddard.

“This sort of fund-raiser allows us to continue our services in Herefordshire.”

She said the Bar Leaners did their best to lighten their load by occasionally stopping the bar for drinks, as well as popping into each pub on the way to collect donations. The group is largely made-up of Ledbury Rugby Club members. It was formed in the mid-1980s when friends got together with plans to hold an annual ball with their mates in a barn.

The tradition continues to this day with almost 250 guests turning out each year.

Last year, the wife of a ‘Bar Leaner’ developed breast cancer causing the friends to consider giving something back to those who treat others with the illness.

Donations for the walk can still be given at justgiving. com/TheBarleaners