A DUDLEY councillor is set to reach dizzy new heights in his bid to raise £1,000 for Mary Stevens Hospice.

Councillor Steve Waltho, who served as the Mayor of Dudley in 2015/16, will hike to the base camp of Mount Everest on Tuesday, October 9.

As well as supporting the Oldswinford hospice, cllr Waltho is treating the expedition - which will see him climb the world's tallest mountain alongside his friend Martin Morris - as an opportunity to "tick the hill off his bucket list".

He said: “Mary Stevens Hospice is a wonderful organisation and I'm very proud to serve on its board of trustees.

"I hope people will kindly sponsor me as I haul my 63-year old aching body up to Everest Base Camp at 18,000ft for the benefit of those less fortunate.”

Charlotte Schofield, the hospice's head of fundraising and lottery, added: “You really don't get much more iconic a challenge than climbing Everest do you?

"On a day-to-day basis, Steve serves this charity and its patients with such passion and while we are blown away by his commitment, it would be a lie to say we were surprised to hear he would take on such a remarkable thing to support us.

"We'll have the kettle on for him when he gets back and wish him all the luck in the world with this truly fabulous adventure."

To support cllr Waltho's effort, visit www.givepenny.com/everest-climb-2018.