Margaret Payne plans to climb the height of Suilven - 2,398ft - by making 282 trips upstairs.

She said 99-year-old veteran Captain Tom Moore, who has raised more than £12 million for the NHS through a charity garden walk, inspired her to take on the climb.

She started the challenge on Easter Sunday and expects it will take her around two months to complete.Mrs Payne had raised £1,800 by Wednesday but by 2pm on Thursday this was nearing £8,000.

Margaret Payne plans to climb the height of Suilven.

The challenge is her way of saying thank-you to NHS and hospice staff who took care of her late husband Jim.

Daughter Nicky McArthur said: "Dad was a real dynamo - a real goer. Mum always just tagged along."

Mrs Payne said: "My husband died at Christmas, and the NHS were absolutely wonderful. So it was a way of saying thank you.

"After seeing the efforts of Cpt Moore, Mrs Payne was inspired to do something to give back to health staff.

Mrs Payne, who lives in Ardvar, Sutherland, said she was never a hillwalker, having lived with knee problems since she was 12.Her true passion was fishing and she said she would walk miles to reach the best spots.

"I do walk round the garden, every nice day", Mrs Payne said."I'm always afraid of being blown over now so when it's windy I daren't go.

"Our house stands rather high, facing the prevailing winds so it asks for it a bit.

"Mrs Payne takes on the stair-climbing challenge at several times throughout the day, starting in the morning once she is ready and finishing in the late afternoon.

Mrs McArthur believes that the fresh air of north-west Scotland has helped keep her mother healthy, adding: "Mum is still incredibly active. She is an avid reader and crossword-doer.

I think part of it is just staying interested in life."

You can donate to Mrs Payne's challenge here: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser

Scots OAP inspired by Captain Tom Moore aims to raise funds by climbing equivalent of local mountain on her staircase

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