ROUGH terrain and hot temperatures made a charity mountainside fundraiser an unexpected ordeal for a blind Wellington Heath pensioner, last weekend.

Patrick Adams has nothing but praise for his team, "Patrick and the Fundraisers" and his Guide Dog, Ivan, for getting him up to the top of the Old Man of Coniston and back again.

Mr Adams, who has been blind for three decades, following a tin mine explosion, said: "The climb was excellent in a lot of ways, but a lot rougher than we thought, and it was hard at times for someone without sight to negotiate the boulders.

"The weather was excellent, but rather hot, which slowed us down. Coming down was hands and knees stuff for me at times, and at the end of it, I thought my hamstrings had worn out."

The team of six stayed together to tackle the 800m climb, with Ivan the dog helping his master "up all the steep bits".

"He was very good," said Mr Adams.

But coming back down, Mr Adams thought it wise to let the team pick the path, instead of Ivan.

There were 54 fund-raising teams at Coniston last weekend, with an average age of around the mid-twenties.

The Ledbury team were among the oldest on the slopes, ranging in age from the forties to Mr Adams who, at 68, was the eldest.

The hill challenge of the Coniston Challenge took Mr Adams and his team a total of eight hours, but it has been worth it, with over £3000 raised so far in sponsorship and donations for for the Guide Dog charity.

Mr Adams launched his fund-raising drive for the Guide Dogs charity, to give something back for all the help he has received.

Since the 1980s, he has had five guide dogs, including his present dog, Ivan.

If the team decides to try the challenge again next year, they will train on the Brecon Beacons, instead of the Malvern Hills, to match the terrain of the Old Man of Coniston more closely.

Donations are still welcome on www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com, to drive their total still higher.