AN aerospace worker spent Christmas Day trekking up Mount Everest.

Instead of tearing open his presents, Malcolm Fee, 46, of Cornelia Street, Roe Lee, Blackburn, was hauling himself up the foothills of the world's highest peak in Nepal.

Mr Fee hopes to raise nearly £4,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and was inspired to sign up for the trek by the memory of his mother who died from cancer nearly seven years ago.

He left for the adventure last Friday and found temperatures dropping to minus 20 degrees celsius.

Speaking before the trip Mr Fee, who works at BAE Systems, Samlesbury, said: "Because it's for a good cause and something I have wanted to do, I just think now is a good time to do it.

"I booked the trek through an adventure company and meet up with other walkers out in Kathmandu.

"The trek will last 11 days and some of those will be spent acclimatising because we'll be walking in altitude of up to 18,500ft when we eventually reach the base camp at the foot of Everest.

"In order to train for the walk I've been going to the gym at work two or three times a week and have been walking in the Ribble Valley and up and down Pendle and few times."

Mr Fee said the biggest challenge would be coping with the altitude but believed he was up to the task.

And the mountain trekker is hoping to raise up to £2,000 from his sponsorship, a total that will be matched by his employers who have chosen Macmillan as their charity of choice.

Mr Fee added: "It should be an adventure and at least all the money I raise will go to a good cause."