A Strood bus driver is taking part in a charity endurance test this weekend to raise money for Help for Heroes.

John Hickey of Commissioners Road is one of 12 drivers from a bus depot in Dagenham who will climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mount Snowdon within 24 hours.

They left Hyde Park on Thursday afternoon in a double decker bus to head for the first of their three climbs.

The team is made up of three drivers, nine climbers and a support squad.

John – who has been a bus driver for most of his working life – aims to climb the three peaks in his Irish kilt. At 59, he’s the oldest member of the team.

The group have already raised more than £20,000 and hope to add another £10,000 before the end of their challenge.

Help for Heroes is a charity which helps to rehabilitate soldiers injured in battle – in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of them are based in Medway.