ANIMAL loving children have teamed up to help save Chester Zoo.

A group of 15 youngsters are climbing their stairs 587 times between them - the equivalent of Ben Nevis!

The friends, aged 2 to 11,  started their ambitious two-day challenge yesterday and have already raised more than £2,000!

Middlewich High School teaching assistant Zoe Jones, whose daughter Darcey is taking part, said: "The children visit the zoo regularly and said they would be sad if it closed.

"One of our friends Charlotte Brookshaw came up with the idea."

The children all love visiting Chester Zoo and a few of them have memberships. They love to spend time and learn about all the different animals.

All the children's mums are best friends and have kept in touch since high school.

Zoe, from Winsford, works with pupils with autism at the Middlewich High School.

"All the mums have said if the children raise £1,000, we will climb the stairs 587 times between us," said Zoe.

Darcey, 10, is a pupil at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Winsford.

Other members of the team include Harry and Amelie Brookshaw, Max and Zinnia Baldini, Charlie and Joseph Greenaway, Kyan, Kayden, Koa and Ziah Dawkins, Frankie, Albie and Ava Kerr and Ella Woodward.

Kyan, 11, is the oldest taking part and twins Frankie and Albie, who are only two, are the youngest.

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They are all climbing the stairs in their own homes.

The children are pupils at High Street, Wharton, Whitegate and Helsby primary schools.

"The children all love the zoo," said Zoe. "Harry wants to be a zoo keeper."

The mums want to thank their friend Hanna Lydiate who is co-ordinating the fundraising.

To donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/charlotte-brookshaw1