Colleagues pay tribute to mountaineer

The colleagues of a mountaineer who was killed in an avalanche have come up with an unusual way of paying tribute to him.

John Taylor and Steve Barber from York were among nine climbers who died in the Alps earlier this year.

Now, Mr Taylor's fellow workers have decided to raise money for charity by growing moustaches for a month.

The 19-strong group of men have just had their whiskers shaved off and have raised more than £1000 for the Search and Rescue Dog Association (SARDA), an organisation their colleague keenly supported.

Cath Purdy, the Chief Executive of Vela Group, where John Taylor worked as the Group Director of Resources, said:

Colleagues decided to organise a moustache-growing contest, as they felt it was a little different and would raise a few smiles.

John Taylor was climbing with a group trying to scale the infamous Mont Maudit when they were struck by an avalanche in July.

He died alongside his friend and fellow villager, Steve Barber. They lived opposite each other in Upper Poppleton, and their daughters attended the same school.

The pair were on a fundraising trip for a hospice in York.

Now in Hartlepool, colleagues say they will continue to hold events to raise money for charity in John's memory.

Here is Claire Montgomery's report: