A former Oakworth man serving as an army lieutenant in Afghan-istan is planning a special tribute to three colleagues killed by a roadside bomb.

Simon Wright and 11 members of his platoon are taking part in a gruelling 22km challenge to raise money for the families of the dead men.

The team will aim to complete a tough dust-track course around an International Security Assist-ance Force base in as quick a time as possible.

They will wear full combat gear and carry packs weighing more than 22lb for Sunday’s challenge.

“This isn’t a walk in the park,” said Lt Wright, 26, commander of 8 Platoon, Charlie Company, 2 SCOTS. “Temperatures in June surpass 45 degrees centigrade, and dehydration can set in within 20 minutes.

“This event will require everyone to dig deep within themselves to find the strength to rescind the constant thirst, severe sweating and heavy weight on our backs.”

The soldiers are staging the morale-sapping challenge following the deaths on April 30 of Royal Regiment of Scotland comrades Cpl William Savage, Fus Samuel Flint and Pte Robert Hetherington, whose Mastiff armoured vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device in Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand province, while they were on patrol.

“It was an incident that the soldiers and officers of the 2 SCOTS family will never forget,” said Lt Wright, who grew up in Oakworth and attended Oakbank School.

A Just Giving website page – justgiving.com/2SCOTS-CCoy-8Plt – set-up to take donations for the challenge has already exceeded the £1,000 target.

Lt Wright, who was a member of Oakworth Scout troop and Keighley youth theatre HYT, joined the army after studying a geography degree at Manchester University.

He completed officer training at top army college Sandhurst.