Wounded soldiers' Everest climb cancelled

A group of British soldiers, injured in the line of duty, has been forced to abandon their attempt to climb Mount Everest because of safety fears.

Five soldiers, two of them from London, had hoped to try for the summit towards the end of this month, but will now have to leave the Himalayas later this week.

A ‘Walking With The Wounded’ spokesman said the mountain was "a death trap" and the already difficult task of climbing 8,848m above sea level to the summit had been made "almost impossible".

Prince Harry broke the news of the soldiers’ disappointment during an awards ceremony in Washington last night.

Walking With The Wounded co-founder Edward Parker said rocks on the mountain had been falling and loosening due to unseasonal dry and warm conditions.

There has also been an increase in the number of avalanches.