TWELVE tram workers are set to scale the heights of the Yorkshire Three Peaks in memory of two of their colleagues.

Simon Feasby, former duty manager of the Nottingham Express Transit depot in Wilkinson Street, Whitemoor, and tram driver Russell Broomhead both died from cancer last year.

Their colleagues decided to do something as a tribute to the pair and hit on the idea of tackling the Yorkshire peaks after supplies manager Lee Hall completed the challenge.

Mr Hall 48, of Cinderhill, said: "Simon and Russell were two colleagues who were here one month and gone the next. Everyone wanted to do something for them."

Mr Hall set the challenge after forming a new walking club at the depot.

He said: "I did the challenge last year and I saw people of all shapes and sizes completing it. I thought it was something people at work could do.

"As an incentive and added motivation, I thought we should do it for charity and it was obvious to us all that we'd do it for Simon and Russell.

"We've got people from management down to the tram crew taking part and it has built a good relationship between all personnel at the depot."

The team is collecting donations in aid of Cancer Research UK and is also walking in support of Tracey Greatbatch, 45, of Basford, who is recovering from breast cancer.

The team has been training since September last year, hiking a total of 185 miles and putting in more than 70 hours of training in the Peak District in preparation for the challenge.

Mr Hall said: "We started with five-mile walks and have progressed so much that we've done 21-mile hikes. They've all given up two Sundays a month to do the training.

"My motto has been 'train hard, walk easy', and that's the attitude we have adopted. I'm confident we can do it."

The Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge will take place on Saturday, June 19.

The task is to complete a 25-mile walk up three of the highest peaks in the Yorkshire Dales in 24 hours.

The challenge takes competitors to the summits of Whernside, which is 2,415 feet high, Ingleborough at 2,372 ft and Pen-y-ghent at 2,276 ft, all in one circular route.

To make the challenge all the more daunting, the NET team aims to complete the walk in less than 12 hours.

They are currently collecting donations in aid of Cancer Research UK.

People can sponsor the team at www.justgiving.com/netandfriends.