A SENIOR Old Chorister at Blackburn Cathedral has struck the right note with fundraisers after walking the Three Peaks for charity.

Stuart Hopkinson, 43, from Blackburn, took to the Yorkshire hills and covered 28 miles and 4,500 feet of ascent to raise more than £400 for the Old Chorister's Association.

Joined by friends and his 15-year-old son Nick, who was raising money to pay for a trip to an orphanage in Tanzania next month, Stuart completed the tiring trek in 11 hours and 49 minutes after stopping just once for rest and refreshments.

Stuart, who lives in Accrington, completed the walk on May 28 and said he has now just about recovered from the challenge, which covers the region's three peaks Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.

He said: "There are fell runners who can complete the Three Peaks in around three hours but we were still pleased with our achievement and it was all done in fun to raise money for charity.

"My son was with us, which was really good and he breezed the walk as he is a rugby player. I must admit though that years of playing football also helped me.

"I also had a couple of practise walks with my wife up Pendle Hill which helped to kick-start the legs.

"Overall we all had a really good day and raised a lot of money for a good cause."

Stuart wanted to thank all members of the Cathedral congregation who supported his fundraising and said that there was still plenty of time for anyone who wished to donate to the association to do so.

The Old Choristers' Association is for all choristers who are too old for the choir.

When they are "read out" at their final evensong, choristers automatically join the ranks of the Old Choristers' Association, which provides a source of mutual support and a way for ex-choristers to keep in touch with one another during the years ahead.