ATHLETES who are training for a triathlon have proved you can never be too short or too tall to get on your bike to raise money for charity.

Act 4 Africa, an Altrincham based charity that delivers AIDS and HIV education to school children in Africa through performing arts, has attracted teams of widely varying height to its triathlon event next month.

The tallest team has an average height of six feet three inches and the smallest an average stature of just four feet two inches.

Steve Scott, from Altrincham, heads the 'Real Life Dwarves' team, which includes his 11-year-old daughter Rosie - the team swimmer - and 18-year-old Jon Denuil, who is training for the 10 kilometre run.

Six feet five inch tall Michael Newman, a former Royal Engineer from Northenden, heads the 'Ubique' team up.

The make up of his team is uncertain as Naval pilot Hagar Hatchard is busy flying helicopters from HMS Ocean taking Royal Marines in and out of Iraq, and doesn't know if he will be back for the event. But his girlfriend, six feet one inch tall Polly Robinson, has offered to fill his big boots if he can't return in time.

The third member of the team is Tony Crook who measures in at six feet three inches.

'Ubique' - which is Latin for everywhere - appears on the cap badge of the Royal Engineers, in which the members of the team have served.

Steve Scott, a founder member of the Dwarf Athletics Association UK, said: "I hope we'll be getting a 50 per cent head start on the Ubique team as they're 50 per cent taller than us! But I'm not worried, we thrashed them in the cycle event last year."

Ubique captain Michael Newman disputes the dwarf team's claim: "We're sure they took a short cut last year, but we'll have no cheating this time. We've signed up the SAS to keep an eye on their movements."

The event on May 11 includes a 25 mile cycle, a one mile swim and a 10 kilometre run, starting from Lymm Leisure Centre. Entrants are still welcome on an individual or team basis for the full event, a half triathlon or any one of the elements.

Act for Africa takes teams of people from all walks of life to Africa to try to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS by using performing arts in education. They set up, train and fund African teams to continue the work in their absence.

There are 40 million people suffering from AIDS worldwide, over 25 million of them in Africa.

There's a £25 individual, or £50 team registration fee for the triathlon, refundable against sponsorship. Call 941 2161 for details.