Ian Rogers, of Lathkill Street, is part of a six-strong team of experienced climbers attempting to reach the summit of Everest.

They made their final push on Tuesday but according to Mr Rogers' online blog - which, incredibly, he has been updating via satellite phone from the wind-battered flanks of Everest itself - he was forced to turn back at the Hillary Step due to eye problems.

Read Ian's incredible blog here.

The step - an imposing 12m (40ft) rock wall named after the famous climber - is at a height of 8,760m.

The summit is at a height of 8,848m

A one-line entry uploaded by the 42-year-old climber late last night (Wednesday, May 20) said simply: "Safe at Camp 2. Sorry folks so close but no summit. I turned around at the Hillary Step after problems with my eyes, not good at 8800m."

Mr Rogers, who is raising money for Cancer Research in memory of his partner Jan Varese, who died from skin cancer two years ago aged 46, has been on the mountain since early April.

The team has already been as high as Camp 3 as the climbers attempted to acclimatise to the extreme altitude.

An earlier attempt on the summit at the start of this month was halted at Camp 2 due to poor weather and a series of avalanches, which claimed the life of a Sherpa climbing with another party.

But by last Thursday the team were ready for another assault on the summit.

Mr Rogers wrote: "The big day then, has nearly arrived. Yes, the fear, the anxiety, the apprehension, is building in us all. But so, too is the excitement, the expectation, the drive and the determination to face the great challenge that lies ahead – to reach the summit of Everest, and stand atop the highest mountain on Earth."

They spent the next four days making their way to Camp 2, Camp 3 and then finally, using oxygen, to Camp 4.

Mr Rogers, a forensics consultant, reached 7,000m on a previous expedition to Everest in 2005 and has climbed in Pakistan, the Alps and throughout Britain.

Fewer than 200 British climbers have conquered Everest since it was first scaled 56 years ago.

Sponsor Mr Rogers at www.justgiving.com/climb4life2008.