DERI Brown is feeling on top of the world after successfully conquering a 20,000ft Himalayan mountain to raise money for Diabetes UK.

The Brynhoffnant builder scaled Stok Kangri, at 6,153m or 20,187ft, the highest mountain in the Stok Range of the Himalayas in the Ladakh region of northwest India.

The dad of four - himself diagnosed with diabetes when he was 15 - had to overcome freezing temperatures, glacial crevasses, steep, difficult climbs and the effects of altitude to make it to the top.

But it was well worth the effort for Deri, with nearly £4,500 already raised for the charity so close to his heart.

“It was difficult but such a feeling to make it all the way,” said the 39-year-old. “Just living on the side of a mountain for 10 days with no contact whatsoever with the outside world or your family was tough on its own.”

Setting off, temperatures topped 32 degrees centigrade but all that changed the higher Deri climbed, with temperatures at night especially plummeting well below freezing.

“One of my worries beforehand was the effects of altitude but I seemed to cope with it quite well,” said Deri.

“We had plenty of time to acclimatise and the oxygen levels in our bodies were regularly monitored and I was lucky as mine was quite steady.

“One of the scariest things was going up to base camp and watching other people coming down who had been pulled off the mountain because they could not handle it. That did not inspire confidence.”

Of the nine who set out in Deri’s group, only three of them made it to the summit.

“We had to cross a glacier that was covered in crevasses and a few pulled out at that stage and then we reached the shoulder of the mountain. We did not need ropes, just ice axes and crampons,” said Deri.

“After that, we had to go along a ridge. At its narrowest point it was about two and a half to three feet wide with a sheer drop on either side and another two pulled out at that point as they felt it was too dangerous.”

However, Deri pressed on and was first to the summit.

“I was quite emotional on the top. One of the things spurring me on was my family had given me six envelopes to open on the way up the mountain with little notes and messages inside telling me to keep going,” said Deri.

“It was a great motivation, I opened the last one on the summit and it was a fantastic feeling.”

Deri would love to return to the area and tackle other peaks but for now he is just happy to be back home with his family.

"I would just like to thank Londis, solicitors Welsh & Co and all those who have supported me," added Deri.

To donate to Deri’s fund-raising page, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Deri-Brown