DRESSED as characters from the Lord of the Rings, seven men climbed Mount Snowdon raising nearly £2,000 in honour of their close friend who died in February.

Adam Cunliffe, from Sutton, died after suffering from a sudden heart attack aged just 20.

His seven best friends, with whom he had attended Sutton High, decided to hike up Snowdon to raise money for charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) because the eight of them had joked about being the 'fellowship of the ring' when Adam was alive.

Matt Hankinson, 21, said: "It was always a running joke between the friends that we were the 'fellowship'. It was Adam's favourite film. It would have been Adam's 21st on June 8 and so we decided we'd climb Snowdon the week after."

The seven were Matt as Legolas, Matt Harmon as Gandalf, Thomas Tilley as Frodo, Luke Coulson as Merry, Jamie Shuker as Aragorn, James Tilley as Gimli and Ed Reeves as Boromir.

"And Adam would have been Sam," Matt, who lives in Stirling Crescent, said: "We stayed in a hostel on the Friday night and started the journey around 8am. We'd bought some of the costumes and made some of the others, and things like bows and arrows.

"People kept stopping to talk to us and posed for photos with us - I think we brightened up the day.

"We got a clear start but cloud came down a bit later on, which made it misty and atmospheric.

"I think Adam would have been proud of us."

Matt, who works at a plumbers' merchants, said the group of friends was completely shocked and devastated by Adam's death.

He said: "Adam was a loved son, adored brother and great friend to us all. Nothing was more important to Adam than his family, friends and girlfriend.

"With nearly three years complete at university studying teaching, a bright future lay ahead of him.

"Whether it was at school, university or even the pub, Adam had time to spare for anyone and everyone, his favourite topic of conversation his beloved Everton FC and Wigan RLFC."

He added: "We couldn't believe it when he died. There had been no warning signs. The seven of us carried his coffin."

The charity CRY helps families who suffer the sudden loss of a young loved one and try to prevent it happening to others.

Anyone who would like to make a donation can go to justgiving.com/Adam-Miles-Cunliffe.