A FORMER aircraft parts tester will take to the skies as he seeks to conquer some of Scotland’s highest hills.

Retired Rolls-Royce engineer Robert Sneath, from Barnoldswick, has set himself a challenge to climb 32 of the Scottish Munros.

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The Munros are the mountains in Scotland over 3,000 feet high.

The 63-year-old hopes to play his part in a £70,000 fundraising drive spearheaded by Christian Aid.

Mr Sneath, of Cedars Close, has supported the charity for 48 years through his role as treasurer at Barnoldswick Baptist Church.

He has organised sponsored walks in West Craven since 1977, but dwindling numbers meant no event could go ahead this year – so the grandfather-of-three turned his attentions to a more ambitious task.

He said: “This is definitely the greatest challenge I have ever set myself. I have never done anything like this before.

“The numbers in the community here have gone down to the point where it is too much work for too few people, and we couldn’t raise the numbers needed even to cover the health and safety aspect of things.

“I was looking for something to do and thought about the Three Peaks before I came across the Munros challenge on a website.”

Mr Sneath, who will set out on his first walk on March 7, has walked The Ribble Way, The Dales Way, and The Dales High Way before, but only ever mounted one Munro.

He said: “I was absolutely shattered after a walk I did a few weeks ago, so I decided I needed to get training.

“I have only done one Munro, Ben Nevis, in the past, but I am a keen walker and I enjoy being out in the countryside. I enjoy it, even though it is hard work.”

Mr Sneath’s wife, Carol, will accompany him to Scotland, but she won’t be joining her husband up the hills. He will complete his climbs between March and October with a Christian Aid group aiming to top 70 Munros to celebrate the charity’s 70th birthday.

He added: “There may be some extra ones done, whilst kicking my heels in Scotland, in between.”

To donate to Mr Sneath’s cause visit www.justgiving.com/Robert-Sneath/.