A carer specialising in dementia has been inspired by her work to take on a night-time challenge for charity.

Rachael Penn aims to raise between £500 and £1,000 for the Alzheimer's Society by climbing the tallest mountain in Britain at midnight.

She will scale Ben Nevis as part of an expedition organised by the charity on June 21 next year, and plans to raise funds with a series of events beforehand.

Mrs Penn, 24, who works at The Laurels care home in Attleborough, said she was motivated after seeing the effects of dementia first-hand.

'I wanted to do a bit extra for the people I care for and their families,' she said.

'I didn't really put much thought into being a carer before I started but seeing how it affects families and how little funding there is made me want to do something.'

Mrs Penn will take part in the event with about 200 others, none of whom she knows, and expects to take about seven hours to climb and four hours to return.

As part of her fund-raising efforts, The Laurels has organised an event at St Mary's Church hall in Attleborough on March 22 between 1pm and 5pm.

All of the money raised will go towards her fund-raising total.

'I think doing it at midnight is supposed to signify the struggle with Alzheimer's and how difficult it can be,' Mrs Penn added.

'I come home with a new bruise every day but I wouldn't do anything else.

'I feel it's a duty I want to fulfil and I like helping people and their families.

'The Alzheimer's Society is looking into funding to try to cure the condition so there's definitely progress happening but it's not really at the front of most people's minds.'

To sponsor Mrs Penn, visit her Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/rachael-penn