COUNCIL staff scaled three Yorkshire peaks to raise money for injured soldiers and dementia sufferers.

The team from South Oxfordshire District Council and the Vale of White Horse District Council raised £8,000.

Twenty-six walkers completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, scaling Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough on a circular 26-mile route and climbing a total of 1,600m.

The challenge was to complete the walk in under 12 hours.

All but two of the group finished in under 12 hours, with the fastest climber making it back in nine hours and 15 minutes.

The money raised is being shared between the Help For Heroes charity, which supports wounded soldiers, and Vale House, the Botley Alzheimer’s Home, a care home for 20 people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

Matt Prosser, strategic director for both councils, said: “I’m proud to say our team rose to the challenge, walking the equivalent of a marathon over steep terrain in under 12 hours.

“I’m delighted we’ve managed to raise over £8,000 for two really good causes.”

The councils are used to teamwork – they now share finance and waste departments and even a chief executive.

Vic Buckett-Hipgrave, spokesman for South Oxfordshire, said: “I’m proud we’ve been able to raise such a fantastic amount for two very deserving charities – it made all the hard work and painful blisters on the day worth it.”

John Williams, chairman of Vale House, said: “I would like to congratulate those who participated in the Three Peaks in Yorkshire challenge and thank them for their much appreciated and very successful fundraising efforts.”

The Alzheimer's home in West Way is planning to move to a new purpose-built site in Sandford-on-Thames.

Help for Heroes was founded by Bryn and Emma Parry in October 2007 to help wounded servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

In June, Prince William opened a gym and swimming pool complex at Headley Court as part of a £20m fundraising campaign to build four personal recovery centres.

The first is due to open in Colchester in the spring of next year.