A YORK firefighter is to put his fitness and endurance to an extreme test when he seeks to run 100 miles in less than 24 hours - all without moving a yard.

Steve Higgins, 27, who lives in Clifton, York, and is based at Bridlington Fire Station, is hoping to raise hundreds of pounds for the Children of Chernobyl, a charity which brings vulnerable youngsters from the Ukrainian town to the UK for a holiday.

Steve, who has met children from Chernobyl over the past few years when the charity has paid visits to his fire station, will be pounding a treadmill at Fitness First, at Clifton Moor, York, for the exhausting challenge next month.

He said: "I've got 24 hours to run more than 100 miles. I could perhaps do it in 21 or 22 hours.

"I won't be sprinting, it will just be a gallop.

"I've done a half-marathon before, but I've been training for five months or so, now four to five times a week in the gym.

"Most days I just run for 90 minutes and then I'm running for an extra hour each week, so that by the time I do my run I will be ready.

"I know I can do it."

Steve will be beginning his run at 7pm on October 7, to get the quiet night-time period out of the way first, finishing on or before 7pm the next day.

Anyone who wants to donate money should visit the gym itself or telephone 01904 693322.

Updated: 09:34 Saturday, September 07, 2002