YORK businessman Bruce Corrie has made it to the top of the mountain.

Mr Corrie reached the pinnacle of the 19,300 ft Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania - raising £3,129 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance - more than £1,000 better than he expected.

After returning from his climb to Gilmans Point, the summit on the north side of the extinct volcano, he said: "It's the highest place you can get to on earth without oxygen. I did think about calling an air ambulance to get me off the mountain a few times but ironically there is insufficient air to fly helicopters at that height!

"A big thank you to everyone for their kind donations."

Mr Corrie successfully completed another mission on the mountain - he planted the flag of Gretna Green Football Club of which he is a major sponsor.

Corries, based at Rowntree Wharf, York, specialises in representing asbestos claimants, as well as offering services in employment law, personal injury and medical negligence, plus family law and property services. It employs 70 people.

Mr Corrie, 43, took with him two old pals, Sean McDermott, a York-based IT consultant and Andrew Knight, an old schoolfriend from Scotland.

His climbing contribution brings to £23,000 the amount that Corries has so far given to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and, once a second air ambulance is bought, the firm has pledged further sponsorship of £10,000.