A TRANSPORT manager has scaled the heights for charity.

Chris Thomas completed a 20,000ft trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, to help raise more than £40,000 for Hopes and Homes for Children.

The charity works to find permanent homes for children in orphanages in Eastern Europe and Africa.

Chris, aged 45, from Worsley, was one of a 12-strong group that spent five days climbing the mountain to reach its 19,345ft summit, Uhuru Peak.

Chris, pictured at the summit, said: "We experienced some real extremes of temperature. At night, it got as low as -22C. The last 600 feet or so is really steep across a glacier. Some of the group were suffering from altitude sickness but I and six others made it to the top of Uhuru Peak.

"There was a real sense of achievement and pride in knowing what we had done and that we were making a real difference to the lives of children who have lost their families through war and famine."

Next year, Chris, who works for Walkden-based Law Distribution, is planning to scale Mount Anacagua, the highest peak in South America, for the same charity.