EVEREST conqueror Chris Brown is back in the country after a nostalgic return to the scene of his triumph on the world's highest mountain.

The 56-year-old North Yorkshire farmer and councillor made a trip to Everest with a team of fellow climbers as part of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of its first ascent.

Coun Brown, a member of Harrogate Borough Council who was granted freedom of the borough following his climb in 1999, farms at Baldersby, between Ripon and Thirsk, and is the Conservative member for the Wathvale ward.

Later this month, Sir Edmund Hillary will travel to Nepal for the golden anniversary of his climb of the world's highest peak - which is 29,028ft.

Coun Brown's return to the scene of his climbing exploits were not centred on climbing Everest again but to meet fellow conquerors and support parties at the 19,000ft base camp.

With him was a party of climbers, mainly from North Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, 83-year-old Sir Edmund, who lives in New Zealand, is helping to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds to help impoverished people living in the Himalayan mountains.