A TRIO of pals from Trafford took part in a gruelling 10 mile yomp inspired by the selection process of the British Army’s toughest regiment.

Paul Naylor from Timperley, Neil Cust from Sale, and Anthony Dillon from Hale - all chartered surveyors - swapped their suits for camouflage gear at Catterick Barracks on Sunday where they were attempting the legendary Parachute Regiment Challenge.

The multi-terrain endurance race - completion of which is a pre-requisite before solders can apply to join the regiment - requires participants to carry a Bergen rucksack weighted with 35 pounds of sand bags.

Additionally, each competitor has just one hour 50 minutes to complete the arduous course - nicknamed Britain’s Everest.

“It was really good fun but it was also really hard,” admits 43-year-old Paul. “I’ve actually done the London Marathon and the Great North Run but this was a completely different ball game with the extra weight we had to carry and the type of terrain we were going over.

“Some people just raced off ahead at the start but we’d decided to take it a little slower.”

The pals - who all completed the course in time - had to negotiate steep hills, wade through rivers, and contend with their packs getting increasingly heavy as they progressed the route.

“The sand bags got heavier as we went around as they started soaking up sweat and the water,” continued Paul. “And you also had to carry food and water which wasn’t part of the 35 pounds.

“So far we’ve raised £2,600 which we’re really pleased about as we had originally planned for £1,500,” he added.

All the money raised will go to the Army’s Help for Heroes charity which supports wounded British soldiers.

To add to their total Messenger readers can make a donation by visiting http www.justgiving.com/Anthony-Dillon.