A GROUP of Explorer Scouts climbed the height of Mount Everest on the Malvern Hills to raise money for victims of the Nepal earthquake disaster.

The Extreme Explorer Scout Group from Twyning worked out that to climb the equivalent of the world's highest mountain, they would have to walks from the centre of Great Malvern to the top of the Beacon 40 times.

The Scouts set up 'base camp' at the Lyttelton Well in Church Street and then walked in relays, going up in twos or threes, and collecting money on the way in buckets.

The money will go to the Deepshikha High School and Orphanage in Kathmandu, chosen because Jane Carley, one of the Scout groups's leaders, worked there 20 years ago and knows the head, Deepak Gurung.

She said: "I was able to find out that Deepak, his family and his school are safe and unhurt by the earthquake but the orphanage is damaged and the children are living outside in tents."

She said that the event had raised about £600 from the collection on then day and another £280 from its JustGiving page. "We were amazed at how interested and generous the public were. It was a beautiful day so there were plenty of people out walking," she said.

"The target was 40 ascents, but on the day, they did better than that and completed 53. Two of the team, Stefan Braband and David Sexton, managed to climb to the top five times which was a fantastic achievement, so it's well done all round."