A GROUP of North-East firefighters have returned safely after an assault on Mount Everest aimed at raising the flag for equality in all walks of life.

Divisional Officer John Robson and Sub Officer Gary Bankhead, of Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, along with the service's former finance officer, Sue Macpherson, arrived at Everest Base Camp after a 16-hour trek.

Mr Robson said: "It was an awesome, challenging, exciting and humbling, a wonderful experience, well worth the challenge.

"The trek was not only physical, but also very emotional, spiritual and mentally rewarding."

Mr Robson said the climbers had observed avalanches and rock falls very close to hand.

He said: "There were amazing ice pinnacles on the Khumba Glacier moraine, some several stories high.

"From the original 30 that started the trek nearly two weeks ago, only nine achieved the completion of Base Camp Everest."

Mr Robson, Mr Bankhead and Ms Macpherson were part of a group of 18 fire service staff trekking for the charity Show Racism the Red Card.

The trek was 45 miles to Base Camp and 45 miles back through the Khumba valley, visiting many exotic places such as Phakding, Tengboche Monastary, Dewoche, Phariche, Lobuche and Namche Bazaar, a trading post for Tibet and Nepal.

The firefighters have already started planning their next expedition, next year, which they hope will be to Cotopaxa, Ecuador, followed by an assault of Antantagui, in Argentina, which, at 22,000ft, is believed to be the highest peak outside the Himilayas.