THE fundraising team of Worcester’s oldest law firm HallmarkHulme call themselves ‘Hallmark’s Hotties’, including as they do several ladies.

The team's latest charity challenge, climbing the three highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales, had the additional challenge being held on what turned out to be the hottest weekend in the UK for many years.

Together with members of three other city based companies, recruitment specialists Lawson Keys, photographers FT Images and estate agents Nicol & Co, the team climbed Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Snowdon in Wales, all within 24 hours. To be precise, the official National Three Peaks Challenge took them 23 hours, which involved 23 miles walking and 10 hours driving between mountains.

HallmarkHulme’s managing partner Rebecca Widdowson said: “Colleagues who were at Worcester Sixways to collect us said they had never seen a more tired group of people get off a coach.

"We were also not particularly fragrant and never been more appreciative of a shower.”

The group began by tackling Ben Nevis on the morning of Saturday, June 30.

Ms Widdowson said: “The weather was unbelievably challenging.

“Extremely hot and even at the summit we were carrying two or three litres of water each. We had one fall and some minor injuries, but everyone completed the hike safely.

"This took us five-and-a-half-hours and then we drove on to Scafell Pike, which was completed in three-and-a-half-hours. The descent in the dark was nicknamed the ‘Descent of Doom’ Another fall on the descent, but fortunately no major injuries. Then it was on to Snowdon, which took four hours. A lovely temperature at the bottom, but once in the sun along the Pyg track, the weather was again stifling, very hot, no shade and a challenging ascent with a lot of scrambling. This was achieved in three-and-a-half hours and even at the bottom the temperature was 32.5 degrees.”

However, all the sweat was worth it as Team HH raised around £6,000 for the Midlands Air Ambulance from corporate sponsors, individual supporters, family and friends.