A blind teacher has conquered his biggest challenge yet by trekking to the Mount Everest base camp.

Peter Richardson, 50, of Bradford, scaled 18,000 feet to Kala Pattar, which is in the shadow of Mount Everest.

Mr Richardson, who has been blind since birth, said it was one of his most exciting adventures of his life.

The month-long, 180-mile trek was completed with four pals Neil Warburton, of Thornton; John Barraclough, of Otley; John Munday, of Pudsey, and Duncan Smith, of Scotland, and a team of sherpa guides.

Mr Richardson said he had decided to go on the trek after talking it over with Mr Warburton, aged 59.

And his reason for testing himself against the world's highest mountain ranges was simple.

"There are some challenges in the world that are just there to do," he said.

The 31-day trip organised by Bristol-based specialists Himalayan Kingdom took him to the peaks of Gokyo Ri and Kala Pattar.

Company spokesman Peter Gibbs said it was "unusual" request as it was a strenuous trek.

But he added: "Peter was up to it and very prepared," he said.

Their journey followed the original route used by the first conquerors of the famous mountain.

Describing Kala Pattar, Mr Richardson said: "It was exciting just to get that high, it was such a challenge as it was such a strenuous walk.

"It was also the closest point that we could get to Mount Everest without actually climbing it - it really was quite an achievement."

Mr Richardson who teaches science, health education and music at Haycliffe School, Bradford, said the conditions were difficult.

He had to endure walking through valleys, on the side of a glacier, traversing boulder-strewn paths and difficulty in breathing, when reaching a higher altitude.

"The worst bit of the trip was three days in when we had to walk from Kathmandu in a single file.

"I always had to have my hand on someone's shoulder to help guide me, but it was difficult as it was a rocky journey and you need to have someone talking to you all the time to let you know what is happening.

"Sometimes you were emotionally drained," he added.

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