World's Highest Dinner Party team safe

An attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the world's highest dinner party has been abandoned in the light of a devastating earthquake in Nepal.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake, which hit Nepal on Saturday, has left over 3,000 people dead.

As well as destroying homes in Pokhara and the capital Kathmandu, the earthquake triggered deadly avalanches around Mount Everest, where a number of climbers are reported to have been killed.

The World's Highest Dinner Party expedition, which involved two Michelin-starred chef Sat Bains, was part of an attempt to raise £100,000 for Community Action Nepal. Separately, Bains raised nearly £23,000 for Hospitality Action.

Originally, the plan had been planning to serve a full meal on 27 April at Everest's North Col, more than 23,000 ft (7,100 m) above sea level.

However the attempt had been delayed until 30 April, partly because Sat Bains suffered symptoms of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and had to be taken off the mountain.

The rest of the team, led by Neil Laughton and supported by expedition adviser Ted Atkins, are safe, having moved to the Advance Base Camp on the north side of the mountain, where they managed to escape the worst of the avalanche. A statement from Laughton said: "In the light of the tragic events unfolding in Kathmandu and on Mount Everest, we have decided to abandon our World's Highest Dinner party attempt and are returning to Base Camp.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this disaster and we will continue to raise funds for the charity Community Action Nepal."

Sat Bains was in Kathmandu at the time of the earthquake but has since left the city on a relief flight and is flying back to the UK.