A BROTHER and sister from Flintshire have raised hundreds of pounds to support their schools by taking on a gruelling fitness challenge.

Morgan and Ffion Pickstock, from Holywell, decided that to help raise funds for Ysgol Maes Garmon and Ysgol Caer Nant they would climb Mount Everest - at home on their stairs.

Both finished their task within 24 hours walking time - cheered on by their proud mum and dad Caroline and Ian - raising more than £800 to be split between the schools in the process.

Mrs Pickstock told the Leader nine-year-old Ffion and 11-year-old Morgan went up and down their staircase about 3,400 times, which came to more than 89,000 individual steps each.

She said: "It was something they decided to do for themselves because they have said the schools have been very supportive of their learning.

"Ffion goes to Ysgol Caer Nant and Morgan goes to Ysgol Maes Garmon, but he went to Caer Nant too - so both schools are close to their hearts.

"They started on Saturday and it was a really hard challenge but they persevered and did not give up.

"They did have breaks but overall they both did it in less that 24 hours of walking time. Morgan had about one hour and 14 minutes left and Ffion had about five minutes.

"It was amazing. They kept track of how many times they had climbed by carrying and dropping Lego bricks into trays which we counted in blocks of 250.

"I posted updates about them on Facebook throughout the day. People were just in awe of them doing it and were sending them messages and videos of encouragement - we'd really like to thank everyone for their support.

"Ffion had taken a few more breaks and didn't realise to start with that her brother had finished it before her, which gave her the boost she needed to complete her climb.

"It was a roasting hot day. We admire their determination and we are very proud of them."

To see Ffion and Morgan's fundraising page and to donate, visit; https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/morganandffionclimbeverest