A COURAGEOUS climber will set out to scale almost 30,000 feet - despite being terrified of heights!

Murray Winters will spend six days back-packing round the peaks of the Lake District, totting up the equivalent height of Mount Everest.

Each day, the dedicated Oxfam worker will walk around 15 miles and climb up to 4,500 feet, which is roughly the height of Ben Nevis.

And despite having dizzy spells, Murray who is a regular hill-walker, will grit his teeth and climb on.

"There will be one or two hairy moments," he said: "It hits me when I look down from a great height and see people and cars the size of small toys.

"I have to sit down, have a cup of tea and take a few deep breaths. Then, hopefully, I can carry on. It'll be exhausting but that's the challenge."

Murray, from Hoghton, sets out on May 10. He is raising money for the poor of Nepal who live in the shadow of Everest.

If you can help with sponsorship contact Murray on 888128 or go to Preston's Flag Market on Bank Holiday Monday. Oxfam staff have made a papier mache mountain to promote Murray's climb and visitors will be invited to plant a flag in aid of Nepal.

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