TWO Skipton policemen will be trekking through New Zealand's national parks to raise money for the Children's Society.

Sgt Andy Gill and community safety officer PC Neil Hargreaves, who are both based at Skipton Police Station, are taking part in a eight-day trek called the Sea to Summit Challenge, setting off on November 20 2003.

Andy told the Herald: "We'll be trekking between 100 to 150 miles, which includes going over two mountains."

The trek will set off in temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius from the coast and take them through two national parks in South Island called Nelson and Abel Tasman.

It will also mean climbing Mount Fyffe - at the summit there will be snow and ice and a glacier to negotiate. Once they are back at the finishing point, they will have a day's rest before flying home.

Andy said: "Neil took part in a sponsored bike ride through China two years ago for Mencap and he wanted to do another sponsored event.

"I am a regular contributor to the Children's Society anyway, and we thought it'd be better to do it as a team."

The two men need to raise a minimum of £2,750 each.

Andy said they would appreciate either cash donations, or prizes they could use at future events. They have already been promised a hot air balloon ride by Rylstone-based Airborne Adventures.

They will be contacting local businesses in the near future, and have already organised a Christmas quiz.

Eighty per cent of the funds raised by the two men will go directly to the Children's Society while the remaining 20 per cent will go towards the cost of funding the trip and buying all the necessary equipment.

Andy added: "I've always wanted to do something like this for a good cause and doing something worthwhile for charity is what we both believe in.

"We see a lot of underprivileged people in our line of work, people getting the bad end of the stick in terms of life, so it would be good to help."

Andy was brought up in Skipton and is a former pupil of the town's Ermysted's Grammar School. Neil, who was recently named Craven's Community Bobby of year, is from Settle. Both men have two children.

Anyone wanting to sponsor them should contact Neil at Skipton Police on 01423 539717. Messages can be left on his answerphone.