THE new chief executive of West Wiltshire District Council is to take part in a challenge to climb four of Britain's highest peaks in under 48 hours to raise money for disadvantaged children in the region.

Mr Pate, who joined the council in March, is clocking up miles of training to reach peak fitness for the exhausting Wooden Spoon, Vauxhall Four Peaks Challenge.

The event, on July 1, requires competitors to climb each of the highest mountains in Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland in less than 48 hours.

Mr Pate, who will be climbing with three friends from Somerset where he lives with his family, said: "I have set myself up for another forfeit. I have asked my colleagues in the district council to consider setting up sponsorship teams with the incentive that the team that sponsors me the most gets to tell me what to do for a day.

"I may live to regret this, if I survive the four peaks that is."

The team, which is looking to raise £4,000, will be supported by a driver who will be ferrying them on the 1,900 mile journey between peaks in a vehicle supplied by Vauxhall.

Anyone wishing to support the team can contact Mr Pate at: www.just giving.com/4peaks4fit