Neil Perryman and Palma Carter are planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania this summer to raise more than £3,000 for children's charity Unicef.

The pair, who both live in Hartlepool, are aiming to raise the cash needed to take part in the trip and are urging people to back the cause.

Youngsters at West Park Primary School in Hartlepool have already held a non-uniform day to raise cash and youngsters at Golden Flatts Primary School are also supporting the climb.

Mum of three Palma, 41, who was born in Italy but has lived in Hartlepool for almost 10 years, said "I just wanted to get involved a bit more and do something hands on.

"I have children the same age as those you see in Africa. Hopefully raising this money will make a difference to someone's life.

"Altitude will be the toughest part no question, I've had to do loads of fitness training to get myself ready because I've never done anything like this before.

"Just because you want to get to the top it doesn't mean that you will, there is only a 70 per cent success rate of making it to the summit."

Mount Kilimanjaro stands at over 19,340ft and is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free standing mountain in the world.

Neil, 39, of Elwick, near Hartlepool, and Palma will trek for 11 days and nights on the climb that starts on June 10 that will take in rainforests of Tanzania and the Lemosho route up the mountain.

West Park Primary raised £300 and Golden Flatts School, which held its non-uniform day yesterday, is expected to raise almost £200.

Palma, a counsellor for Sunderland City Council, visited West Park Primary, where her eldest children Natalia, eight, and four year-old Sofia attend, to answer questions from pupils.

She said: "All the kids were so receptive and excited, they really enjoyed our slide show and were amazed at the cost of things here compared to Africa.

"They've made us promise to give them progress reports and we've been asked to come back and tell them all about our experiences.

"The schools have been absolutely amazing because they are giving us all of the funds they have raised."