'I carried a gingerbread biscuit 4,650 miles to eat on Everest'

A man who set himself a challenge to take a piece of gingerbread from West Lancashire to Everest said it was "the best thing I've tasted in a long time" when he finally got to eat it at Base Camp.

Chris Vincent, from Ormskirk, reached base camp with nine others on 15 October and finally ate the gingerbread after carrying it in his bag for almost two weeks and about 4,650 miles (7,500 km) to Nepal.

The 62-year-old said it was the experience of a lifetime to climb the mountain and something he had always wanted to do.

He raised over £5,000 for the Steve Prescott Foundation, that supports Try Assist, previously known as the Rugby League Benevolent Fund and The Christie cancer hospital.

"In Nepal for altitude sickness they use a ginger and lemon tea, so I just thought ginger, gingerbread, Ormskirk Gingerbread, taking that up would be really iconic thing to do," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I had it in a side pocket and I think it added to the challenge not eating it on the way," he said.

Chris, an experienced walker, said he was "nervous" about the challenge as he had never been at such a high altitude before - 5,364 metres (17,598 feet).

He travelled from Lukla near Kathmandu, taking eight days to get to Base Camp while he acclimatised to the altitude trekking.

Reaching Base Camp was "amazing", he said.

"You can't really describe how it felt to be stood amongst all the amazing peaks and blue skies.

"When I walked back to where we were staying that night, I ate the gingerbread and it was the best thing I've tasted in a long time.

"It's amazing normally but that added to it," he said.

The actual gingerbread was made from a "top secret recipe" from Mr Thompson's Bakery in Ormskirk.

Lilli Thompson said the family-run bakers were approached by Chris to help with his fundraising target and after contributing, gave him a pack of their gingerbread to take with him.

She said it was "mind-blowing" and a "privilege" to have been involved and know their sweet treat had been all the way to Everest.

"What an amazing thing Chris has done," she said.

"We're just so proud of him."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.