THREE firefighters from York and Malton will be exchanging their helmets for hiking boots when they head out to China this summer on a charity fundraising expedition.

Paul Twissel, of York, and Andrew Illstone and Steve Bothamley, who are both from Malton, will be hiking 60km along the Great Wall and hope to raise £10,000 for the Fire Service National Benevolent Fund. The group will leave for Beijing in June and after being driven out to their starting point, plan to walk about 10km each day for six days.

They will carry all their own supplies and plan to camp out under the stars.

The weather is expected to be hot and humid, although temperatures are said to drop substantially at night.

Paul Twissell, who is based at York Fire Station, said: "I'm really excited about going, it will be different to anything that I have ever done before."

The Fire Service National Benevolent Fund raises money for fire service workers and their families who are in need.

Anyone who is interested in making a donation should make it payable to FSNBF China Trek and forward it to Paul at York Fire Station.

Updated: 10:03 Saturday, January 27, 2001