A VETERAN from Southampton has raised almost £10,000 after taking on three thigh-burning treks across the world.

Engineer Ian Haberfield, 39, successfully completed the hikes in aid of armed forces charity SSAFA, starting with a journey from Iceland to Nepal, where he visited Everest Base Camp and was challenged to a glacier hike and altitude trek.

This challenge was followed by a five-day trek travelling across glaciers in Iceland in 2017 and a 9-day altitude walk across Nepal in South Asia, as well as climbing to Everest Base Camp for a second time.

He raised £2,925 after trekking from Iceland to Nepal and a bigger sum of £4,416 as a result of his trek across Nepal, with every penny going to the SSAFA charity - who provide lifelong support to people who serve or used to serve in the armed forces, and their families.

Ian, who used to be an army air helicopter communications specialist, faces his next trek at Africa's highest mountain Mount Toubkal in Morocco, alongside 18 colleagues from telecommunications company Openreach this September - where he hopes to reach his fundraising goal of £10,000.

Ian said: “I started fundraising for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, to help raise awareness and support the Armed Forces community. I’ve had friends lose their lives because they did not know there was support out there for them to turn to, so this is to help others like them.”

Head of corporate fundraising and events at SSAFA James Grant said: “We are incredibly grateful to Ian and his fellow Openreach employees for taking part in the Mount Toubkal Trek. It promises to be an incredible challenge, raising significant funds to help support SSAFA and the Armed Forces community.”

To donate, visit ssafa-openreach.charitycheckout.co.uk/pf/ian-haberfield.