TWO Bury sports instructors are appealing for sponsorship to help them scale Britain's highest mountain.

But they say that the fuel crisis might make it harder to get to the bottom of Ben Nevis than the top!

The climb, in aid of the Mayor's Charity Fund, is being done this Saturday (Sept 23) by Steve Hepworth and Lynne Barrow, aerobics instructors at Bury's Castle Leisure Centre.

Steve said: "Lynne and I have been building up for the challenge and we feel confident about getting to the top in a pretty respectable time. Whether we can actually get to the bottom to start off in the first place, though, is a different matter.

"We are just keeping our fingers crossed that the petrol situation will have eased and that we will be able to get ourselves and our support team to Fort William to complete the run as planned."

Steve and Lynne will be accompanied on the 4,406-foot expedition by at least three of the regular members at the leisure centre's Images Gym.

They have already been pledged more than £500 in sponsorship which will go into the Mayor of Bury's Charity Fund which this year is supporting Bury Hospice, the Save the Children Fund and the RNLI.

Steve added: "Even with the difficulties of getting there, we are still determined to raise as much money as possible for what are three very worthy causes."

Anyone who wishes to sponsor the duo can phone Steve or Lynne on 253 6506 or 253 6513.