On top of the world!

AMBITION and a desire to support two major charities ended with Scott McNaughton sitting on top of the world.

At 9.30am on May 17, Mr McNaughton, of Stephenson Walk, Fairfield Park, near Stotfold, stepped on to the summit of Mount Everest, the world's highest peak.

Months of training had finally meant the young accountant reaching his ultimate goal and so far he has raised £24,000 for Children in Crisis and Macmillan Cancer Relief through his climb.

"It was always my dream to climb Everest so I decided to try and achieve my ambition and raise money for charity at the same time," said Mr McNaughton, who was given six weeks leave by BDO Stoy Hayward the company in London where he is a partner.

"It was a great adventure and one I will never forget for the rest of my life. It was the experience of a lifetime but also a very dangerous one.

"We climbed a route from the Tibet side of the mountain where 12 people had died trying to get to Everest's peak in a short time. It is a very difficult route and at times very traumatic. On the way to the summit we saw the remains of four dead climbers.

"It is dangerous once you get to a certain height because you are climbing inside the jet stream. Once we had a good weather forecast for a few days we set out for the summit and within a few hours I was standing on the roof of the world."

Mr McNaughton, whose partner Isabelle is a teacher at Icknield Infant and Nursery School in Letchworth GC, added: "When I got to the summit it was difficult to describe my feelings.

"I just sat down and looked around taking in the fantastic vista. There was no wind or cloud. I had achieved my lifetime goal and 20 minutes later I was heading back down the mountain.

"Now I am home and getting on the train at Letchworth every morning to commute to London it is hard to reflect back a few weeks knowing I was standing on top of Everest looking down on the world.