SCHOOL caretaker Keith Hunt knew he would face his toughest challenge to date when he signed up for the National Three Peaks 24 Hour Challenge.

But he could hardly have imagined just how testing the experience last Saturday would be - or that he would spend the night lost in heavy mist on England's highest peak.

The event challenges those taking part to walk the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales - all within a 24 hour period.

Keith, who works at Old Cleeve First School, was no stranger to serious walking.

The 54-year-old completed the Mandalas and Mountains charity trek in the outer foothills of the Himalayas last October, walking around 15 kilometres a day at heights up to 3,200 metres.

He also successfully undertook the Welsh Three Peaks challenge earlier this year and is also working his way along the South West Coast Path.

His efforts have also raised £3,500 for St Margaret's Somerset Hospice and more than £2,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.

Keith's main concern about attempting the national three peaks - Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon - was whether the challenge would be accompanied by the scorching temperatures he endured while he was training throughout July.

"But the weather was anything but that," said Keith.

As he set off from the foot of Ben Nevis - one of a group of five selected as the fittest participants - the rain was lashing down and the wind was blowing a gale.

Despite the unpleasant conditions and passing a walker being taken off the peak in the early stages of hypothermia, the group reached the summit plateau.

A decision was taken not to go right to the top, as the 50mph winds along the 611m-high cliffs was considered too dangerous.

But in the eyes of the organisers, the first peak had been ticked off.

"Only two to go and by 4pm were off to the Lake District and Scafell Pike," said Keith.

The group arrived at the start point, Wasdale Head, by 9pm. It was not raining and the early stages of the trek were uneventful.

But when the walkers reached a point known as the Hollow Stones, the mist descended, visibility was just a few feet and the wind started to get up.

However, the summit was reached.

"I took a quick photo in the terrible conditions before Paul, our leader, took a compass bearing before we headed down," said Keith.

That was when things really started to go wrong for the group - after 15 minutes of climbing down, Paul realised there was a problem.

"He couldn't locate the route and said we needed to go back up to start again," said Keith.

"In such poor visibility, this wasn't straightforward."

The group was still in radio contact and tried to locate another group who had been following behind.

"We turned off our torches hoping to see something but it was complete darkness.

"Our only choice was to head down any safe way we could, which wasn't at all easy without knowing what was ahead - possibly a sheer drop."

Spirits were flagging, with everyone feeling cold, tired and wet.

"Now and again we would find a path but then it would disappear again."

Eventually, everyone agreed the safest option would be to deploy the shelter they had brought with them.

In fact, this was nothing more than a giant bag which the walkers, smelling like wet dogs, pulled over them.

"It wasn't very comfortable but at least it created some body heat for us all to recover until daylight," said Keith.

With radio contact having been lost about midnight, the group stayed huddled together from about 3.45am until just after 5.15am.

It was still a long way down and Keith was glad the descent had not been attempted in darkness.

"It was tough enough in daylight," he said.

A couple of hours later, the walkers spotted a farmhouse but there was no radio or mobile phone reception.

Eventually, they reached a youth hostel and by 8am were finally able to make contact with the organisers, who called off the mountain rescue team who had been about to launch a search for the walkers.

Understandably, the attempt on the final peak - Snowdon - was abandoned.

Amazingly, the experience has not entirely deterred Keith from future walking challenges.

"I certainly won't be tackling any more mountains this year," he said. "It was quite scary and at one point I really did think my time had come.

"But I'm keeping in touch with the other group members and we've decided we will do something together next year - possibly even the same challenge."