A NEWPORT man scaled the Welsh three peaks in around 17 hours after being inspired through a local military-based fitness group.

Ed Saville, 41, from Ridgeway, embarked on the major challenge along with members of British Military Fitness (BMF), a fitness class run by experienced trainers and former members of the armed forces at Tredegar House.

Mr Saville joined the group around a year ago and during that time has dropped two and a half stone from his previous weight of 17 stone.

As well as this, he has also found his fitness and energy improve dramatically leading to him signing up to the challenge to climb Snowdon, Cadair Idris and Pen y Fan in less than 24 hours to raise funds for Ty Hafan.

Starting at 4am on Saturday, Mr Saville had completed the challenge by 9pm raising around £300.

He said: "I went to the gym for around 10 years but never really improved. I heard about the group through a friend and went along. It was just so much better and I cancelled my gym membership straight away.

"The challenge was one of the hardest things I have ever done."