A FATHER and son will take on the Three Peaks challenge with a social distancing twist- all from their home in Upper Gornal- to raise money for two local causes during lockdown.

Neil Watts and his 15-year-old son Ben will walk up their stairs 1,380 times on Friday, May 22, to recreate the famous climbing challenge.

The pair will take on the mammoth stair climb for the Black Country Wellbeing Centre in Upper Gornal and Brockswood Animal Sanctuary in Sedgley.

Funds will help the team at the Vale Street centre continue their vital work in delivering supplies to vulnerable and elderly people during lockdown and will also contribute towards helping the Sedgley sanctuary care for the hundreds of animals who call the site home.

The News reported last month how staff at the centre have moved into the Catholic Lane site to care for the animals, while their income has evaporated overnight due to its lockdown closure.

It is hoped donations to support the pair's challenge, which can be made here, will help the two facilities survive the coronavirus crisis.

Neil, who is a cubs leader for the 1st Upper Gornal, said: "The staff at the Black Country Wellbeing Centre do amazing work normally, but during lockdown they have been doing fantastic work helping people in isolation.

"My family have always been animal lovers and we love visiting Brockswood. We need to make sure it's still there when this is all over."

The Three Peaks challenge usually sees walkers climb Mount Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis in 24 hours.

With the summit now being the top of their stairs, Neil and Ellowes Hall pupil Ben are putting in their training with hundreds of steps per day.

Neil added: "I just thought, why not? It's something I've always wanted to do."