A JUNIOR soldier from Darwen was given special leave from his training course so that he could climb three British mountains in four days.

Elliot Blackledge, 16, of Holden Fold, joined the Army Foundation College in Harrogate in January and joins up with the Royal Signals in December.

Last Friday he climbed Ben Nevis, on Sunday he climbed Scafell Pike in the Lake District, and on Sunday he climbed Mount Snowdon in Wales.

The former Darwen Moorland School pupil was accompanied by his uncle Paul Blackledge, 62, of Kirkstone Avenue, Blackburn, and his cousins Gareth and Ryan Bickham, also from Blackburn.

Paul said: "I wrote to Elliot's platoon commander to get special permission to allow him to take part.

"It was very hard work, and we're tired now, but it was worthwhile as we aim to raise more than £1,000 for local charities."

The money will be split between St Luke's Church, St Mark's Church, The Wish Centre, all in Blackburn and North West German Shepherd Rescue.