An adventurer gave himself a mountain to climb when he set the challenge of scaling one of the toughest peaks in the world.

Harder to climb than Everest, Ama Dablam in Nepal, which rises 6,856 metres in the Himalayan landscape, proved a deadly adversary only a year ago when an avalanche claimed six lives.

But the enormity of the task, just made 39-year-old Partha Dey all the more determined to take on the personal challenge of reaching the summit.

Before he could set off he had to raise £2,950 to go on the expedition, provide climbing references and undertake an extreme fitness programme (see panel) as the mountain air contains only a third of the oxygen available at sea level.

Partha, from Dunstable Road, Luton, had climbed Island Peak in the Himalayas two years ago, but knew Ama Dablam would be a entirely different prospect.

The managing director of Kensworth delivery firm National Sameday, said: "My sister, mum and friends were worried for me and I did write out a will before I left! It's really weird but I subconsciously got all loose ends tied up just in case I didn't come back."

For the full story see the January 16 editions of the Luton News and Dunstable Gazette.