Staff at a Sherston publishing firm are preparing to take on a gruelling series of physical challenges for charity.

Eighteen Sherston Publishing Group employees will be tackling the Three Peaks Challenge later this month, then go on to run the Bristol half marathon in September.

They will be raising money for the Thomas Hannah Appeal, which was set up last year to fight for greater support for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities once they leave the state education system.

The publishing group decided to help this charity on the suggestion of an employee, who is a close friend of the parents of Thomas Wakefield.

The family set up the charity in November 2003 to highlight the lack of planned support for profoundly disabled people once they become 18. Thomas died three weeks ago, aged 20, after spending much of his adult life on a hospital ward because there was no suitable home for him.

The Wakefields, together with Hannah's father Chris Penny, formed the charity to campaign for proper facilities for adults with learning difficulties.

Anyone wishing to sponsor the intrepid mountaineers and runners can send cheques made payable to The Thomas-Hannah Appeal to Russell Mabon, Sherston Publishing Group, Angel House, Sherston, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 0LHJ.