One of Cumbria’s leading mountaineers has spoken of his relief that fellow climber Ian Wade has been rescued from the Himalayas.

Mr Wade, 45, from Threlkeld, was part of a party of 12 who went missing over the weekend during an expedition up India’s second highest peak, Nanda Devi.

He and three others managed to return to base camp, but authorities fear eight of their partry are dead after a series of avalanches hit the mountain.

Five bodies were spotted by Indian air force pilots on Monday before the rescue operation was suspended due to severe weather conditions.

The group - thought to be four Britons, two Americans, one Australian and one person from India - disappeared in the Nanda Devi region of the Himalayas following an avalanche.

The team, led by British mountain guide Martin Moran, was attempting to reach the top of an unclimbed peak in a remote area.

Mr Mosedale, who has summited Everest six times, climbed the world’s highest peak with Mr Wade in 2005.

He has more than 15 years experience in Nepal and in 2011 he led an expedition on the South Col route of Everest, topping out with 4 clients, to become only the 10th Brit to have summited Everest from both sides.

He said: “Ian is a prolific mountaineer with hundreds of expeditions and peaks under his belt.

“As I understand it, the climbers were on steep terrain and because of the poor conditions, they came down.

“The trekkers were on an easier route, but because it was not so steep, it held the snow and there were avalanches.

“Ian was at base camp when the avalanche happened.”

Mr Mosedale has just returned home to Keswick from leading an expedition up the 7,861 metre peak called Nuptse which is close to Everest.

He says the recent deaths on the world’s tallest mountain and queues of people waiting to ascend should not be blamed on Nepalese authorities for allowing a record number of permits to climb the peak.

He says the difficulties and the shocking deaths recorded recently reflect an increasingly casual approach that people have to the dangers that are posed by Everest and in climbing our own mountains in Cumbria.

He says the issues are similar because climbers and trekkers in both areas go poorly prepared and ill-equipped.

“There was a short weather window and you could tell it was going to be a busy day, they should have set off earlier or later to avoid the queues.

“Climbing groups have to do their own due diligence and prepare for the conditions.”

Authorities are trying to assess how to retrieve the bodies from treacherous terrain where helicopters cannot land, it has been reported.

Rescue workers are now operating on the assumption all eight climbers have been killed.

The family of Rupert Whewell say he is a very experienced climber and “the ice and rocks is where he is happiest”. York University said staff and students there were “extremely concerned” for Dr Payne’s safety.