A Great Broughton man hopes to climb Mount Everest without oxygen and raise £8,848, the height in metres of the world's highest mountain - for charity.

Mick Allen is no stranger to high altitude climbing, having summited various peaks throughout the world.

Three years ago he climbed Cho Oyu, the world's sixth highest peak, without oxygen.

Mick, 37, a father-of-three, said: "I could see Everest from there and I guess that is where my oxygen-free Everest idea came from.

"Since then I have taken up fell and ultra distance running to build up my strength and endurance." 

Of the 4,500 people who have climbed Everest, less than 200 have done it without oxygen and six of them were British.

He said: "My ultimate goal is getting to the top. I'd like to do it without oxygen as it's a much purer way and I know I'm strong enough but it's all dependent on acclimatising and what I can do on the day. I will have a cylinder to use if I need to." 

He will fly out to Katmandhu at the beginning of next month and head for base camp on the North Col, in Tibet.

From here his group of five plan to take part in various acclimatisation treks and climbs before attempting the summit in May.

The expedition is expected to take between eight and 10 weeks.

Mick, of Church Meadows, has been training hard through the winter.

He runs more than 70 miles a week, often with a 20k rucksack and his trusted training companion, dog Bess.

He cycles a similar distance, often wearing an altitude mask to recreate the mountain conditions he will face, and does weights.

Mick added: "It's all about muscle density and endurance. I'm three or four times fitter than when I did Cho Oyu."

While there are countless training options when he is at home, Mick, a mechanical engineer, spends three out of every six weeks on an oil platform in the North Sea.

"Being stuck in a tin can on the North Sea can be detrimental when it comes to fitness. But I get on with it - I'm up at 2am with a backpack and altitude training mask. They all call me Forest Gump!

"On Christmas Day, I got up and ran a marathon before breakfast."

His wife, Maria, has been supportive and will be running his Facebook updates when he's away.

Mick, who has been a vegetarian all his life, became a vegan two years ago. 

"I can run faster and longer and recover quicker as a result," he said.

"But is does make it more challenging on the mountain. I can't eat chocolate or the boil in the bag meals many people rely on. I shall have to carry lots of Kendal Mint Cake and chia."

Mick has raised £2,500 for Cash for Kids so far, but is hoping to raise lots more. 

"My target reflects the height of Mount Everest in metres. I've not even got to the height of base camp yet but hopefully that will change," said Mick.

To sponsor Mick go to www.justgiving/mick-allen5