A Wallingford man with learning disabilities has set off to achieve his ambition -- to climb the highest mountain in the world.

Paul Sillitoe, 32, has climbed all over the world with the help of the MacIntyre Care organisation, which has looked after him for the last 26 years.

And in 1993, when he was featured in a television documentary climbing in Nepal with the Duchess of York, he saw Mount Everest.

He said: "I knew from that moment that I wanted to climb it."

Now he is at base camp below Everest and preparing for his ascent of the North Col.

With him on the climb will be Bill Mumford, managing director of MacIntyre Care, professional mountain guide Prof David Hopkins, Paul's climbing friend Maria Tole and Dr Joe Scrivens.

When he returns to this country in May, he will do a lecture tour talking about his experiences.

Mr Mumford said: "When he achieves his Everest climb he will have climbed higher than anyone else in the world with learning difficulties.

"He is pioneering, an inspiration to people who will follow in his footsteps."

Paul started climbing when he was 17 and has climbed in Africa, Argentina, Nepal, Ecuador and in the Alps.

He has been awarded a Winston Churchill Trust Travelling Fellowship award to back his Everest climb.