Ledbury pensioner and veteran climber Arvan Gordon was on top of the World when he successfully tackled one of the highest peaks in the Lake District for charity.

Mr Gordon climbed Skiddaw, repeating a boyhood feat, to celebrate his 80th birthday in style and raise £1,000 in sponsorship for the £180,000 organ restoration appeal at St Michael and All Angels' Church.

He said: "It turned out to be a very nice day. I grabbed the first nice day there was and went up, not by the standard route, but up the rather more interesting way, involving a ridge and by the side of a lake. It's not all that difficult."

It took Mr Gordon around two-and-a-half-hours to reach the summit of the 3,054ft mountain, and the same time to get back.

He said: "It brought back memories of climbing Skiddaw as a boy and it reminded me of how much they have looked after the Lake District. Not much has changed."

Mr Gordon first tackled Skiddaw as a ten-year-old in 1930.

Since then, he has enjoyed an active outdoor life, including fell-walking and rock climbing on the UK's most impressive peaks, such as Ben Nevis.

He said of his latest success: "My effort in climbing Skiddaw resulted in £1,000 being donated by sponsors to the Ledbury Church Organ Fund - about £1 a yard in total."

He said that the sponsorship was offered, not just by the congregation of St Michael and All Angels' Church, but by local people who "like organ music generally".