A group of teachers from two Calne schools were forced to abandon their charity mountain trek because of severe weather conditions.

The 11 teachers from both The John Bentley School and Springfields School, as well as friends and family members, were attempting to climb 14 mountains in North Wales over two days as part of the Welsh 3,000 Challenge to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care and the Berkshire MS therapy centre.

But after climbing eight peaks in a day, the group had to end the trip on July 18 when wind speeds reached 80mph and conditions were too dangerous to climb in.

Adrian Roberts, 39, inclusion co-ordinator at John Bentley School, said: “We were disappointed, but we couldn’t do anything about the weather.

“We climbed from 8am until 8pm, then when we got to the bottom of Snowdonia on the Sunday morning, there were 80mph winds with severe weather warnings in place. It was just too dangerous. If we were taking students on a trip we wouldn’t have even let them get out the mini bus in conditions like that. But when it is a challenge you are ruled by your heart which says go for it, but your head says it’s not worth putting someone’s life at risk.”

The team, which ranged in age from 20s to late 50s, consisted of Mr Roberts, Simon Parry, Steve Darton, Jon Hamp, Ed Bouchard, Peter Grant, Peter Guilfoyle, Scott Ferguson, Steve Dibb, Darren Ford and Doug Green.

If they had been able to complete the challenge, they would have covered a distance of 26 miles and an overall ascent of more than 11,500 ft, which would have included the infamous Crib Goch section on the final peak.

Mr Roberts said: “We are all hobbling around in pain, but we are hoping our sponsors will understand and still support us.”

To back them, visit www.justgiving.com/snowdoniaBentley01