Duo in mountainous climb triumph

They were joined by pal David Walker, from Gornal, to tackle the tough terrain in aid of The Fire Fighters Charity.

Mr Rowley, aged 26, of Ragees Road, Kingswinford, said it was terrific trip to climb to the 15,100 ft summit with David and workmate Martin, aged 32, from Sutton Coldfield.

"When you look down from summit its like a mattress of cloud spread out beneath you," Mr Rowley said.

"We made really good time and arrived at the top a day earlier than planned - the guides just said we should keep climbing so we did," he said. The firefighters both work at the Birmingham Airport Fire Station and David works at Marston's brewery in Wolverhampton.

The team look set to coin in the cash after claiming donations from their fellow firefighters.

"They've been a big support with a bit of banter to keep us motivated as we trained so all we have to do now is count up the money," he said.

Mr Rowley has been with the fire crew for around a year and said it was a once in a lifetime experience.

"It had been a long time preparing for the event but actually getting the chance to do it was something else," he said. They flew out of Heathrow just over a month ago to Ethiopia before travelling onto their base camp in north-western Tanzania.

"We climbed with a group of guides who had said that it would take us around five days up and two days climbing down.

"I have got the bug for doing something along the same lines in the future - but not before I take a good break."

The Fire Fighters Charity supports retired fire service personnel and their families. For information on the friends' expedition visit the website at www.justgiving.com/fsnbfkili manjarosummit