AFTER nearly 18 months of training and fundraising, 35 trekkers from Salisbury will be arriving in Peru tomorrow to trek the Inca Trail for the Stars Appeal.

The group which includes 11 current or past members of staff at Salisbury District Hospital are aged between 27 and 81.

They will be camping in freezing conditions, climbing Incan steps to over 4,000m and walking up to 10 hours a day before reaching their goal - the lost city of Machu Picchu.

Jo Maslen, a volunteer at the Stars Appeal who has been organising the trek and is a trekker herself said: "It's been incredibly hard work, and none of us could have managed our training and fundraising without the support of our friends, family and each other.

"Now we're looking forward to an amazing trek and the chance to see one of the wonders of the world, Machu Picchu.

"We know it will be an unforgettable experience and the fact that together we've raised more than £80,000 towards the £1million the Stars Appeal needs each year makes it even more fantastic."

The eldest, Anthony Lunt, 81, from Fovant, has raised a lot for the charity by asking for donations instead of birthday presents.

The trip is being organised through local adventure travel specialists Discover Adventure and is being led by local Everest summiter Jo Bradshaw.

It follows the success of 2015’s Grand Canyon trek, when 21 local people raised more than £68,000 to help people at Salisbury District Hospital.