THE climber/butcher from Lochgelly has been shocked by the support he has received from the people of the area for his Ben Nevis expedition!

James Sloan, who runs the Hugh Black and Sons branch in the town's Bank Street, has been overwhelmed by the number of people who came forward to sponsor him to climb Scotland's highest mountain on Sunday.

James and ten colleagues, from the Hugh Black chain, took on the challenge to raise funds to buy defibrillators for communities.

He admitted that he had not even been on a hill before but playing amateur football every weekend and five-a-sides he is pretty fit, and felt he would be ready for Ben Nevis on Sunday. So was he?

James and is fellow climbers left the foot of the mountain at 9am and made the up and down adventure inside six hours 20 minutes.

Said the enthusiastic young man: "It was pretty well OK at the start but once we got near the top I thought we are never going to get there.

"However, we all made it and then headed back down the mountain and I must say it was an amazing experience.

"The whole process was a real adventure and it was brilliant to be able to raise £1,400 through it.

"I simply cannot thank everyone who sponsored me enough, I never thought I would raise as much as this through the climb."

The proceeds will go towards buying a defib that will be based at the Bank Street shop to help anyone who has a heart attack in the vicinity of the premises.