A FIRE station watch manager has completed his toughest challenge yet and raised more than £1,000 for charity.

Gary Mercer, a watch manager at Leigh Fire station, embarked on a 112-mile cycle ride and a trek up Mount Snowdon in aid of children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

The 50-year-old set off on his bike from The Boars Head in Astley on Monday at 5.45am to tackle the long-haul cycle, followed by a five-and-a-half-hour trek up to the top of Mount Snowdon the following day.

Mr Mercer, of Church Road, has raised £25,000 over the past four years for cancer charities including The Christie, Wigan and Leigh Hospice and St Ann's Hospice.

The dad of two said: "Cancer has an effect on everyone's life and I just feel so sorry for little children that have to go through it.

"I raise money every year for charity, but this was definitely my biggest challenge yet.

"I was very apprehensive about it as I had done a bit of training, but I am not really a cyclist. I do mountain biking, but just as a hobby.

"We cycled through Warrington, Frodsham, Queensferry, Rhyl, Snowdonia, Conwy, and finished in Bangor.

"The total riding time was eight hours, which was very good due to the severe winds almost bringing the bike to a stop in some sections.

"At the end I had covered a distance of 112 miles and between us we raised well over £1,000 for CLIC Sargent."

Mr Mercer said the climb up Snowdon was made more difficult by gales, which worsened as he reached the top of the mountain.

He said: "The last 20 metres of the climb was very hazardous, culminating in touching the peak at the top of Snowdon on all fours. The icy winds made our fingers numb, even though we were wearing gloves."

Mr Mercer said he wanted to thank his family and supermarkets, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Summerfields and Asda who donated sport drinks, energy gels and energy bars to keep him going over the two-day feat.