FOUR cricketing pals are not just aiming to move mountains, but climb them too to raise £30,000 for two local charities.

The friends linked to Shipston-on-Stour Cricket Club are looking to fit in some high altitude training in between regular fixtures and climb Western Europe's highest peak for the Air Ambulance Service and The Brain Tumour Charity.

At the end of next season, the four: Alistair Howard-Carter, a top-order batsman, who played several games for the 2nd XI before moving up to the Lake District a few years ago, brothers Tom Cox (wicketkeeper) and Ben Cox (all-rounder and number five batter) who were both members of the Cotswold Hills League Premier Division winning 1st XI side at Shipston in 2014, and Matt Hardwick, from Moreton, a "social" cricketer and climber who occasionally turns out on a Sunday, will set off for a third attempt at the mountain.

Club secretary Neil Harper said bad weather thwarted the first attempt and faulty equipment, the second.

"They are determined to complete the task this time. The second attempt was spoilt because of a faulty glove and the risk of frost-bite was too high to continue ," he said.

Roger Wickson, Shipston-on-Stour Cricket Club Chairman, said: "Shipston Cricket Club has been part of the local community for over 150 years. Every year we try and support worthy local causes and the cricket club itself with our fundraising activities. An intrepid group of players completed The Three Peaks Challenge in less than twenty four hours in 2013 and we then set ourselves the daunting task of attempting something a bit more adventurous.

"We decided to try and raise a substantial sum from this new venture, which would allow us to support The Brain Tumour Charity, in memory of former player Andy Bygate who sadly died recently aged 46, and The Air Ambulance Service, who came to the aid of our long serving scorer when he suffered a heart attack, and was able to get him to hospital and save his life. Our aim is to raise in excess of £30,000 by means of sponsorship from local companies and supporters of the cricket club, and a sustained advertising initiative is now underway to encourage as many people as possible to support this exciting but potentially dangerous undertaking."

Mr Wickson and Mr Harper both 2nd XI "veterans" with almost 500 2nd XI league games between them will act as their back up crew. All four cricketers have varying levels of mountaineering experience, with Alistair Howard-Carter having the most as a mountain search and rescue veteran in the Lake District.

The club is hoping everybody in Shipston gives them as much support as possible by way of donations, either by cash or cheque or by donating via the website: www.gofundme.com/shipstoncc-AAS