FIREFIGHTERS have been going that extra mile in the latest in a series of sporty activities.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service’s FireFit Challenge has moved a stage nearer to its 5,250 mile target.

The national initiative is aimed at encouraging both fire service staff and those in the wider community to get more active ahead of this year’s Olympic Games in London. In the two counties, crew members are aiming to achieve the equivalent mileage of the Olympic torch travelling from Beijing to London.

A paddle, plod and cycle at Pershore Riverside Youth Centre added 315 miles to the FireFit total and raised about £1,000 for St Richard’s Hospice.

While Station Commander Ian Jallands took part in the mile-long Great North Swim in the Lake District, finishing in the top 200 out of 5,000 competitors.

A ladder climb at Pebworth fire station, near Chipping Campden, saw crews cover 8,800 metres – the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest – in four and a half hours raising £1,000 for Evesham Skill Zone. A team of six from Leominster completed the Three Peaks Challenge in an impressive 22 hours and 56 minutes adding another 120 miles to the FireFit total mileage while raising about £1,100 for the Fire Fighters Charity and Acorns Children’s Hospice, Worcester.

A team also took part in the Sheriffs Cup golf tournament in Scotland.

Station Commander Phil Griffiths said: “This was a tremendous effort by all those involved bringing our FireFit total mileage up to 5,175 miles with more than £42,000 raised for a range of worthy charities.”