THE employees of a salon owner who died in a car crash with his wife are to take part in a challenge in aid of his favourite charity.

Staff from Hair Haus will join the family of Mark and Tamsie Mchale for a “drop-off” challenge, in which they are dropped off at mystery locations in teams, in fancy dress, with no money or mobile phones.

Each team will compete to get back to the salon in Bishop Auckland, about 25 miles away. They will be completing the challenge to raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance, a favourite of Mr Mchale’s.

The couple died on Wednesday, July 25, when their Audi A5 was involved in an accident with a lorry on the M62 near Bradford, in West Yorkshire, as they were driving to Manchester Airport shortly before 6am.

The salon owner, 46, and his 43-year-old wife, deputy headteacher of Durham Gilesgate Primary School, in Durham City, had been heading off for their holiday in Cuba, where they would have celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary.

Since their deaths, the salon has raised about £3,500 for the charity and salon manager Kendra Hughes said she hopes to top £5,000. She said: “Every year Mark wanted to raise money for charity, usually either the British Heart Foundation or the air ambulance.

“In recent years he has put more emphasis on the air ambulance as he believed it was a vital service and was amazed that its only funding comes from donations. It is tragic to think that had there been a few seconds difference in their crash, then the air ambulance could have saved their lives.”

Hair Haus staff will take part in the challenge on Sunday, November 11. A fundraising party will be held that evening, featuring a live band, at Green Tree pub, Cockton Hill Road.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/Kendra Hughes The lorry driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been released on police bail.