FIVE friends have joined together in an attempt to climb Britain's three highest mountains for the Make Poverty History campaign.

The friends said they wanted to keep the momentum of the campaign going after the G8 summit and Live 8 concerts.

In attempting the Three Peaks challenge, the climbers will scale Ben Nevis in Scotland on Saturday, August 20, at 7.30am, then drive south to Scafell, in Cumbria, followed by a journey to Snowdon, in North Wales.

"We want to increase awareness in the campaign now that the main focus - the G8 summit in Scotland - is over," said team leader John Paul Morrissey, of Yarm, near Stockton.

"We also want to raise £700 for Cafod (Catholic Fund for Overseas Development), which is part of the Make Poverty History campaign.

"We aim to be finished by 7.30am on Sunday, August 21, completing the three peaks in 24 hours. It won't be a record. You need fast cars to complete in under 24 hours, and we will have a mini- bus," said the 23-year-old.

"It will be a challenge for us to complete the climbs. And we hope it will raise money for Cafod and increase awareness in Make Poverty History."

The other climbers are Darren Asquith and Jame McCrae, both 23, of Glasgow, and Iain Bramwell, 26, and Andrew Gibbon, 27, of Newcastle.

The driver will be David Leslie, 32, of Southampton.

The total height of the mountains is over 11,000ft and the climbing should take a total of 14 hours.

Three of the climbers - including Mr Morrissey -- are work colleagues in a Newcastle law firm.

For more information about the challenge, or to sponsor the team, through the charity website Just Giving, visit their website at www. justgiving.com/tpc2005 or post cheques, payable to Cafod, to John Paul Morrissey, 272 Victoria Road, Gateshead NE8 2TA.