Great Western Coffee Shop

A mountain climber from Yatton has been awarded a prestigious status for raising more than ^70,000 for a children's charity.  Father of two Ivan Davenport has officially been named as a VIP mountain climber after he and his friends donated a huge amount of money to Railway Children.  The 55-year-old action man has climbed the three highest mountains in England, Wales and Scotland and will now take on the Three Peaks Challenge in June.

Charity events manager Katie Mason said: "Ivan has worked so hard in spearheading the fundraising that we think he deserves a rest so we have made him a VIP mountaineer.  The last time he took part in the Three Peaks he won a prize for being the first to reach the top of the mountain.  He and his team of fundraisers from First Great Western are an inspiration to us all."

It is thanks to matched sponsorship from First Great Western that Ivan and colleagues have managed to raise so much.

The charity, which helps street children and runaways in the UK, Africa and India, is so impressed by his fundraising efforts that this year they have invited him to enjoy the mountain climb as a VIP without having to fundraise.  But the grandfather of one said he will still aim to raise ^1,500 for Railway Children.

Railway Children works across the world with vulnerable children who have been abandoned, abused or neglected.