THERE was a dramatic mountain rescue at Ben Nevis by a charity fundraising team from Herefordshire.

The Hospice Angels, a motorbike fundraising group for St Michael's Hospice, completed the Three Peaks Challenge last week.

They rode their motorbikes between the climbs up Snowdon in Wales, Scafell Pike in England and Ben Nevis in Scotland.

But when three of the team of 11 were descending Ben Nevis they came across a man who had collapsed.

James Robinson, Craig Stanton and George Burgess were alerted to the man by a Dutch walker who had found him. They helped him to the bottom of the mountain, which delayed their finish time by two hours, and even drove him home.

Mike Pullin, who was on the support team, said: "I think he [the man who had collapsed] was totally exhausted. If it hadn't been for the Dutch woman finding him I don't know what would have happened. His life was saved- no question about it."

Mr Pullin said they rang the mountain rescue who offered them advice.

The challenge was organised by Mr Robinson and Sally Ingram, who was also on the support team, as well as Mandy and Tony Willerton.

The rest of the walkers were Richard Burman, Ann Evans, Marcia Gonsalves-Thompson, John Wilce, Mac Henderson, Kevin Harwood, Richard Haines and Alex Ensor. They raised £5,000 from the challenge for St Michael's Hospice.

The week before, Mr Pullin, completed a parachute jump alongside Norma Blake, Hayley Morris, and Darren Minett and they raised £3,000 for the hospice.