Fire crews from London’s East End will climb the highest mountains to raise money for charity.

That’s just what teams from Poplar fire-station are doing at the weekend when they trek up Britain’s three tallest peaks.

They start with the biggest, the 4,000ft Ben Nevis, then head back south to Scarfell Pike in the Lake District and finally Snowdon in the Welsh hills.

But they have to top all three in 24 hours to meet the ‘three peaks’ challenge.

The firefighters have already raised �1,000 from a Saturday night shindig at the Urban Bar in Limehouse earlier this month, �1,000 from Poplar Harca housing association and another �2,000 expected from Canary Wharf Group, while London Hire is lending them a minibus to make the round-trip.

The Three Peaks are pointing at three charities who’ll get the cash—the London Air Ambulance helicopter at Whitechapel, the Fire Fighters charity and the Junior Diabetes Research Fund.

The air-ambulance was chosen by firefighter Naome Wright, who is organising the sponsored challenge, in memory of a friend who died in a road crash. Watch manager Andrew Stringer chose the diabetes charity after his young son was diagnosed.

Supporters and wellwishers can donate online at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/poplar3peaks.