Teams from a Shropshire school raced each other to Wales’ highest mountain to raise hundreds of pounds for charity during an annual event.

Teams of 12 from Ellesmere College ran the 75 miles to Snowdon to support Cancer Research UK and CRY-UK, which highlights the risk of sudden adult death syndrome in 14 to 35-year-olds.

Teacher James Baggaley said: “This was the most eventful run in my experience, involving an assault on two runners by an angry farmyard animal and a full tyre blowout on the A5.

“We had a mixed ability group of male and female runners of both staff and students but once again, an amazing level of will and determination shown by everyone who ran. There were some personal battles won throughout the day and we all made it through the toughest leg of all – chapel the next morning!”

The annual tradition takes place on the penultimate Sunday of the summer term to allow students to prepare for their final Gold Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, with This year six staff and 18 pupils from Years 11, 12 and 13 taking part this time.

The groups raced against each other to reach the mountain, running in pairs and completing at least five, three-mile legs each, raising over £400 for their chosen charities.

They were unable to summit Snowdon because of the bad weather – with zero visibility, wind and rain and winter temperatures – but both teams reached the Pen-y-Pass car park within 10 hours, 45 minutes of leaving.