A Cumbrian mountaineer who suffered a failed kidney transplant and was told he would not climb again is about to take on Mont Blanc.

Tony Ward, whose job took him around the world before he was diagnosed with kidney failure in 1998, plans to use a mobile dialysis machine on the way up the mountain.

When the former freelance mountaineering instructor has dialysis at 15,863 feet, it will break a record as the highest level the treatment has been carried out.

The 38-year-old hopes to raise awareness of what he sees as a lack of research into kidney conditions.

Tony Ward: "It will be tough"

Mr Ward said: "I had a transplant in 1999 which went wrong.

"There was massive internal bleeding, I went onto life support, and was in hospital for 13 weeks.

"You think you can bounce back but I am still recovering from this two and a half years later."

A team of six will take on the mountain in July.

As well as the dialysis machine, they will take a camera to film the trip, which should last three days.

They hope to raise �50,000 for the National Kidney Research Fund.

"I have very good people around me who would not let me be morose - but I have a lot of reservations and it will be tough.

"Dialysis with the mobile unit takes an hour, and there are hygiene and temperature problems," added Mr Ward.