Dyserth chainsaw artist Ian Murray swaps Darth Vader for three peaks carving challenge

Ian Murray has successfully completed a 'Three Peaks Challenge - with a Twist', which saw him climb Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis to carve a small sculpture on each summit in just 17and a half hours.

For mission, Mr Murray was joined up Snowdown with active servicemen including WO2 Baz Guthrie and WO2 Alan Dalton, with whom he served with in the 16 Tank Transporter Squadron in Germany, and a team of three who joined him for the remainder of the challenge including sister Katy Bickerstaff, Mark Dalton and driver Jonathan Morris.

Mr Murray, who turned 45 in August, said: "It was very strenuous, it was a real challenge. We were originally supposed to at Ben Nevis, but the weather turned so we had to scale Snowdon even with sleet coming down on us at the peak.

"I twisted my knee coming down Scafell too and I had to pop it back into place - there was no one else to do it - but hey ho, you just have to get on with it."

Carving number one on the first peak Snowdon

The group began their challenge at 5.30am on September 7, taking four hours to climb Snowdon and for Murray - who's work will no doubt be familiar from his "Joey" War Horse statue in Rhyl and a life size Darth Vader sculpture for Rogue One actor Spencer Wilding - to carve a Welsh dragon.

An English rose completed in darkness on Scafell Pike

Following the drive up to Cumbria and a five hour hike up England's highest mountain, Mr Murray added and English rose before finishing on Ben Nevis where he carved a thistle.

Mark Dalton and Katy Bickerstaff with the third and final carving on Ben Nevis

Each peak was scaled with 25 to 30kg worth of tools, timber and a chainsaw, with Mr Murray's teammates lending a helping hand for the final ascent.

Mr Murray - who served in Bosnia, Kosovo and Northern Ireland - added; "The camaraderie and banter is what kept me going. That, and when we were coming down Scafell Pike the sunset was amazing.

"Now the aches and pains are starting to go away and it's back to regular life, I can definitely say I've ticked something off the bucket list."

Mr Murray had originally intended to pair his bucket list list experience, which also raised more than £1,000 for the Royal British Legion, Army Benevolence Fund and Blind Veterans with an attempt at breaking a world record.

Mr Murray said; "We're fairly certain it's never been done before,but we're having to call it an unofficial record amongst ourselves as it's considered too specific for the Guinness World Records."

Mr Murray's fundraising page on justgiving.com has closed, but anyone wishing to donate can still do so by calling in to Prestatyn Butchers on the High Street.