SOLDIERS from York took on a gruelling 180-mile endurance event and raised money for charity in the process.

Super-fit members of 2 Signal Regiment took part in the Race The Sun event which saw them climbing, cycling, marching, canoeing and running for 180 miles around North Yorkshire.

The event is held every year and is open to members of the Armed Forces.

Although service personnel use the exercise as an opportunity to raise money for good causes, it is actually designed to test military attributes like leadership, teamwork and organisational skills.

The soldiers had to run up the steep sides of Sutton Bank, cycle through Cropton Forest, march to Rievaulx Moor and swim across the Great Lake at Castle Howard.

The final task was a 3km race around Imphal Barracks carrying a stretcher laden with 40kg of weight. The event raised £2,345 for the Lord Mayor of York Coun Janet Hopton's charities, which this year are the York Branch of the Samaritans and Home Start York.

Coun Hopton said she was very grateful for the fundraising efforts of the regiment and wished them the best for their forthcoming tour of duty overseas.

She said: "I'm delighted to receive the money from 2 Signal Regiment and I would like to thank everyone who took part for all their hard work.

"They are going to be serving overseas shortly and we will be thinking of them over the coming months when they are serving abroad in their deployment in Afghanistan."

Hundreds of servicemen took part in the event which is sponsored by Nestlé and lasts from dawn to dusk.

Major Craig Sutherland, second in command of 2 Signal, said in total the Race The Sun event raised £5,800.

Other beneficiaries apart from the Lord Mayor's charities were the Army Benevolent Fund, the Kohima Educational Trust and the Kohima Museum in Imphal Barracks.

He said the regiment's posting in Kandahar and Helmand province in Afghanistan would be a standard six-month tour with the members of 2 Signal providing information and communications support to NATO and UK forces based in the country.