UK

Injured soldiers' Snowdon beacon honour

A team of wounded servicemen who will this year climb Mount Everest are to light a beacon on the summit of Mount Snowdon to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

The men from Walking With The Wounded are joining forces with three other charities to scale the highest peaks in the UK to simultaneously light the gas-fuelled torches.

A group from Help for Heroes will climb Ben Nevis (4,409ft) in Scotland, Cancer Research representatives will conquer England's Scafell Pike (3,209ft), while trekkers from Field of Life will take on Slieve Donard (2,789ft) in North Ireland. Mount Snowdon in Wales stands at 3,560ft.

A total of 2,012 beacons are to be lit throughout the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Commonwealth on June 4, with the Queen igniting the final torch in London that evening.

Five soldiers injured in Afghanistan will attempt to conquer the world's highest mountain for Walking With The Wounded - which has Prince Harry as its patron - just two weeks before the 60th anniversary of the Queen's coronation.

The charity's co-founder, Ed Parker, said: "These men loyally served in Her Majesty's Armed Forces, so it is a great honour for Walking With The Wounded to be involved in the celebrations of Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee.

"We are taking steps for a better future."

Cancer Research UK chief executive Dr Harpal Kumar said: "We are honoured to be given the opportunity to light the Scafell Pike beacon as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

"It is a privilege to be involved in this landmark occasion and to have this opportunity to raise awareness of the thousands of lives saved every year through the British public's support of the charity."

Fields of Life chief executive Richard Spratt said: "Fields of Life are delighted to take part in these celebrations where the legacy will be the provision of education for vulnerable and marginalised children in northern Uganda for many years to come."

Bryn Parry, founder of Help for Heroes, said: "Help for Heroes is incredibly excited to be given the opportunity to light a beacon at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Beacons. We know it will be a truly unique occasion and a once in a lifetime experience for those taking part."