DOMESTIC abuse activist Eve Thomas teamed up with another campaigner to complete her penultimate climb in her “mountain and miles” challenge.

The 46-year-old has spent her summer hiking up seven mountains across the UK to raise money for Refuge, and on her climb up Green Gable in the Lake District she was joined by Ian McFadyen.

Ms Thomas, from Astley Bridge, has so far conquered Catbells, Helvellyn, Snaefell, Skiddaw, Pen y Fan, Corn Du, Snowdon and Green Gable.

She aims to climb Scafell Pike by the end of September, completing her challenge.

She said: “I am really looking forward to finishing my mountain and miles challenge. It has been hard work but well worth it for such a good cause.

“It was great to have Ian with me when I went up Green Gable. He is a fantastic man. We met on Twitter and have become really good friends.

"He has come through so much in his life and spoken out to help others who may be in the same position.”

Mr McFadyen encountered years of horrific sexual abuse as a youngster at Caldicott Preparatory School in Buckinghamshire between the ages of eight and 13 at the hands of former headmaster Roland Peter Wright, who was convicted of sexually abusing five pupils earlier this year.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is a former pupil at the £20,000 a year school — although he has said that he had no knowledge of any abuse taking place.

Mr McFadyen, aged 48, who has waived his right to anonymity, climbed the mountain to raise money for the Southmead Project, which tackles recurring drug and alcohol misuse — both problems he suffered from 18 years ago.

He said: “Eve told me that she was doing the mountain challenge so I thought I’d join her up Green Gable to support her. Even though we both had different experiences, I believe we are very similar in a lot of ways.

“She has been through domestic abuse and I have been through sexual abuse — and now we are doing what we can to raise money for a charity important to us.

“I spent time begging on the streets and became alcohol and drug dependent, and this charity does some fantastic work.

"Her final climb is Scafell Pike, which I have climbed already — and I can say that it will definitely be her biggest challenge yet.”