A father and son from Penryn who lost their family in a car crash ten years ago will scale Britain's highest mountains in their memory this month.

Pete Birkett was 11 when he was severely injured in the crash which claimed the lives of his sister Shannah, 14, and mother Linda, on September 23, 2007.

He suffered two broken legs and took two years to recover, and both he and his father Geoff have taken years to recover from the grief caused by their loss.

This year, on the tenth anniversary of the crash,Geoff and Pete will take on the three peaks challenge, attempting to scale Snowdon, Ben Nevis and scafell Pike in just 24 hours, finishing at 2pm on September 23, the time at which the emergency services received the first call about the incident.

Geoff said: "We always struggle this time of year, it would be my daughter's birthday, she would have been 24 this year. The crash happened a month later, we usually end up moping and feeling sorry for ourselves.

"This year we thought we'd try and turn negativity into a positive and do something for charity."

The pair will be taking on the challenge in aid of Penhaligon's friends, a charity which helps children by offering bereavement support for young people and their families, and which supported Geoff and Pete when they were at their lowest point.

Geoff said: "I was struggling with him, he had a lot going on, and they offered support.

"I don't think either of us would be here today if it wasn't for them and their support. It was a very troubling time."

He added: "It's a difficult time of the year for us but we're trying to be positive about it because it's going to raise some good money for a good charity.

"Thinking about it and the fact it's been 10 years brings up a lot of emotions, but we are doing this for my wife and daughter."

Geoff and Pete have set up a JustGiving page, which can be found here