By Rachel Kerr BBC News, Cumbria

The fell top assessors climb Helvellyn every day in winter

As a Lake District National Park Authority felltop assessor, his job involves climbing Helvellyn to check conditions at 3,114ft (nearly 950m).

The information he collects is put on the telephone Weatherline service, which is contacted by 200,000 people a year.

Information for the life-saving service is collected throughout the winter, including Christmas Day.

This will be the third year the 36-year-old has climbed Helvellyn on Christmas Day.

He said: "I would be up on a hill anyway, not necessarily Helvellyn, but somewhere.

I like the contact with people up there, but just once in a while it is nice to have it to yourself Pete Collins, felltop assessor

"The last two Christmases I have seen no one up there.

"Boxing Day tends to be a traditional day for people to go.

"I always look forward to it. It is not often I get Helvellyn to myself. I like the contact with people up there, but just once in a while it is nice to have it to yourself."

Mr Collins is one of two fell top assessors who share the task of climbing Helvellyn during the winter.

They record details of wind speed, temperature and snow and ice on the mountain's summit. The information is then fed to Weatherline.

Mr Collins plans to start the climb with his wife Karen at around 1145 GMT on Christmas Day having driven the 12 miles to Glenridding from his home near Penrith.

His record for the ascent is 57 minutes, but it usually takes him between 70 and 90 minutes. The time for most people is between two and three hours.

Climbers need to be properly equipped to make the ascent

He describes the climb as a "scramble", needing hands on rock to make the ascent.

"It depends on the weather," he said.

"There won't be many people around, so there will be less time talking to people so when we get to the top we will maybe walk around and enjoy the view.

"Once we have come down, it will just be a normal Christmas Day. We have got some friends coming round for Christmas dinner."

Mr Collins said during his trips up and down Helvellyn he frequently meets people who are not adequately equipped.

He added that conditions have been unpredictable recently and that it was vital people had the right gear with them over Christmas.

If there is snow and ice around, he said, people need waterproofs, a decent pair of winter boots, an ice axe and crampons. They also need to know how to use them.

He said: "It's really just to get the message across that the Weatherline is there to be used and people need to be adequately equipped to be out in the British mountains in winter.

"Good judgement is essential."