Inspired by Captain Tom Moore, an 86-year-old volunteer with East Somerset Railway in Cranmore is tackling his own fundraising challenge by climbing to the top of Bruton's dovecote 100 times.

Mike Kelham, who lives in Bruton, is tackling the climbing challenge for raise money for NHS Charities Together, which supports NHS staff and volunteers caring for coronavirus patients - and he has already smashed his £1,350 target despite only being just over halfway through.

Mike has decided to climb 100 times up the steep slope to the top of the National Trust pillow mound that supports the historic dovecote in Bruton.

He is climbing it 86 times in the first four weeks, once for each year of his life, which will be a total of around 4,400 feet, equivalent to climbing to the top of Ben Nevis, the UK's highest mountain. He will then climb an extra 14 times to reach the 100 mark and a total of 5,000 feet.

Mike told Shepton Mallet Nub News: "I have really enjoyed the challenge as it has given me a purpose for every day as well as helping to keep me fit.

"I am absolutely delighted to have reached the target which was set by JustGiving and I would like to say a very sincere thank you to all those, known and unknown, who have helped to make that possible by their incredible generosity.

"I am very grateful for their support and encouragement. The total at the moment is nearly £1,500 which I hope will go in some small way towards helping the NHS.

"The weather so far has been really kind with only a couple of slightly challenging days. I have been going for two weeks now and have climbed the equivalent of 2,900 feet so only another 2,100 to go.

"I aim to do the walk every afternoon except Sundays between 2.30pm and 3.30pm so with luck I should have completed the challenge by mid-May."

To donate to Mike's challenge, you can visit his JustGiving page here.