TWO teenagers from Basingstoke climbed to the peaks of three mountains in just 48 hours.

Mark Third, 19, and Ellie Brine, 18, conquered Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Mount Snowdon in Wales, helped by charity Barnardo’s.

The pair joined 19-year-old Stuart, from Andover, as part of the charity’s Phase 2 project, run by Barnardo’s and financed by the European Social Fund, which has helped more than 250 young people who are not in employment, education or training.

Barnardo’s project worker Mike Anthony said: “The challenge took self-belief, patience, physical fitness, personal strength and the ability to cope with minimal sleep. But above all it took tremendous team work.

“Many of the young people we work with are battling personal circumstances and these barriers can stop them reaching their full potential.

“This challenge was designed to overcome these obstacles and to teach them team work and build self-esteem and confidence.

“These are qualities they need to help them get into employment.

“Now they can reflect back on what they have achieved and think ‘if I can do that, I can get through anything’.”

The project gives young people from Basingstoke and Andover the chance to take part in inspirational challenges.

Mikke added: “We battled through wind, rain and snow and were eventually rewarded with summiting our final mountain, Mount Snowdon in the dark.

“Using head torches we descended and reached our bunkhouse at 1.30am where we fell into bed exhausted but happy.”

Since the mountaineering challenge, Mark, Ellie and Stuart now have a clear plan to progress in their lives.

Ellie intends to do an agricultural college course, while Stuart wants to work in the outdoor industry, a career Mark is also considering along with joining the Navy.

Mike said: “They didn’t have any idea what they wanted to do before they joined the Phase 2 project but now they do, which is great.

“We will continue to help them with their journey into education and employment.”