WHILE most of his colleagues are spending their half-term holiday taking a well-earned break or catching up on some marking, one County Durham teacher will spend it climbing a remote 4,000m peak.

Maths teacher Bob Elston, of Moorside Comprehensive School, Consett, set off yesterday on an expedition to walk up a peak in the Andes to raise money for handicapped children.

His week-long trek up Machu-Picchu, a Peruvian peak, was partly funded by a non-uniform day at the school that raised £175.

Mr Elston hopes to raise £2,500 from the climb, and a number of other events, for Whizz Kidz, a charity that provides electric wheelchairs for disabled children.

Just before setting off, Mr Elston said: "When I come back after half-term I hope to be able to raise more money by putting on slide shows and talks about the trip.