Mountaineering expedition organisers in Nepal are sending huge bags with climbers on Mount Everest during the spring climbing season to collect rubbish that then can be winched by helicopters back to the base camp.

The Irish Seven Summits team has had to abandon its latest assault on the world’s highest mountain following the decision by Sherpas to withdraw their services following a spate of recent deaths.

A Mount Everest expedition leader criticised for leading his team past a dying British climber said today that he did not know during his team’s ascent that anyone was in trouble near the peak.