GENEROUS walkers and climbers have pledged thousands of pounds to a crowdfunding campaign to help fix erosion on some of Britain's most iconic peaks, including Scafell Pike in the Lake District.

Launched just two days ago, the £100,000 Mend the Mountains appeal backed by legendary mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington had already raised £63,560 as the Gazette went to press yesterday.

The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) has identified eight key mountain routes in urgent need of repair and they include:

- Brown Tongue, the most popular route to the 978-metre summit of Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain. Described as 'heavily scarred', the path is followed by around 100,000 people each year, many completing the Three Peaks Challenge for charity.

- Swine Tail, a path below the 723-metre summit of Ingleborough, is on the route of the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge. Although raising an estimated £5 million for charity each year, it withstands 60,000 pairs of feet to support those efforts, and repairs cost £28 per metre.

Last December's floods caused "a whole year's worth" of damage in the Lake District in just one night, according to estimates by footpath repair partnership Fix the Fells. So far the crowdfunding campaign has raised £9,535 for work on Scafell Pike, and Fix the Fells programme manager Tanya Oliver said: "Scafell Pike is rightfully a very popular fell to climb. It is loved by residents and visitors alike but this popularity means it is in constant need of help to keep the paths from eroding away.

"Support for this project will mean we can repair some of the most worn paths to the summit and ensure Scafell Pike will be ready to welcome walkers for many generations to come."

Meanwhile, Ingleborough has attracted pledges totalling £7,040. David Butterworth, chief executive of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, said: "With 120,000 walkers making it to the summit of Ingleborough every year and the Swine Tail also forming part of the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge, every pound donated to this work will be very well spent."

To donate, visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/mendourmountains