A SEVEN-year-old girl from the district has raised more than £1,000 for charity after climbing the Yorkshire Three Peaks.

Freyja Roads, who lives in Keighley, tackled the hills over three days, camping overnight between each climb, to raise money for Mind and Shelter.

She had raised more than £460 seven months before embarking on her trek, through donations to her charity page and her Facebook page Freyja’s Peaks Challenge.

The Haworth Primary School student placed a stone at the top of each peak – Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough – and did a video diary recording her progress.

Freyja’s mother Lotty said: “I am in total awe of this little seven-year-old, who walked 28 miles over three days, climbing Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough in order to raise money for both charities.

“She found herself tired and aching but pushed through."

She added: "Her little legs felt like they were going to drop off, but we couldn’t be more proud of our girl.”

Lotty said she was overwhelmed by the amount of support Freyja received from the public before and during her walk.

She added: “Mind and Shelter do amazing work.

"With that one in four of us every year suffering from mental illness and an estimated 320,000 people homeless in Great Britain I am sure everyone will be affected or knows oh someone who has found themselves suffering.”

Freyja successfully tackled Pen-y-Ghent first, on a clear day, but the weather turned on the second day after she set out to climb Whernside.

Lotty said: “Towards the top the mist set in making it hard to see how far was left to go or even see more than a few feet in front.

“The rain kept coming down hard in intermittent showers which really got Freyja down.

"She really had to rally herself at this point which, as a parent, really was such an overwhelmingly proud moment. She said ‘people are sleeping out in this weather’ and ‘let’s get it done’. When she laid her stone and felt proud of herself.”

After a well-earned night of sleep and with a hurting leg, Freyja struggled to the top of Ingleborough, dancing a “cute and pretty great” jig at the summit.

However, it appears that even bigger challenges may be ahead for Freyja, who has expressed a desire to climb the UK's tallest mountain.

“Next Freyja is wanting to do Ben Nevis because she wants to climb a mountain however I’m waiting for her to be a bit older," said Lotty.

"I’m going to let her stick to the PPaint Rush and Keighley 10k for next year.”

Freyja started fundraising at the age of five after visiting Leeds and seeing the amount of homeless people in the streets.

Deeply affected, she made food parcels, but she wanted to do more.

She learned how other people had raised money for charity by climbing the Three Yorkshire Peaks.

Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem, campaigning to improve services and raise awareness. Meanwhile, Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through advice, support and legal services.

Visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/freyjaschallenge before the end of August to donate.