ONLY OLD floodlights can make that sudden clunking sound, like an old, rickety lever being pulled down to spark the countless bulbs to life.

An expedition to discover whether George Mallory and Andrew Irvine conquered Mount Everest before their deaths has found a sock and mitten thought to belong to the men, it emerged today.

British officials are trying to clear up a VAT problem that has stalled the return of artifacts recovered near the body of English climber George Mallory, who died on Mount Everest more than 75 years ago.