A Maldon special constable flew the flag for UK police officers on the world’s highest mountain.

George Longhurst, of Essex Police’s Chelmsford and Maldon local policing team, carried a ‘thin blue line’ flag all the way up to base camp on Mount Everest.

George, 19, said he flew to Kathmandu for the challenge to show how proud he is to be a police officer.

He said: “Once I got there, the sense of achievement was incredible and I was extremely proud of myself.

“I brought the thin blue line flag as I thought I could represent police officers in the UK as a whole by taking it with me and flying the flag when I got there, to represent my country and the job I am proud to say I do.”

George landed in Nepal on April 28, spending the next nine days trekking at high altitude before he reached the south base camp at more than 5,000m on the 8,848m peak on May 6.

Despite it being a tough challenge, George was very thrilled to have done it.

He added: “It was amazing, I met people from all over the world but it was extremely demanding and difficult.

“I had a headache more or less the whole time I was climbing at altitude but I was determined to reach my goal and make it to base camp.”