British Climbers Robbed in Peru

Three British climbers attempting to scale a remote peak in Peru had their expedition cut short yesterday when armed robbers stole their equipment and provisions in a night-time raid.

Ken Pindlay, 54, William Waddell, 52, and Brian Swales, 55, were asleep at their base camp when masked men entered their tents and threatened them with guns and knives.

Their guide, Bernardo Vargas, 24, was stabbed in the hand. After the raid, he led the trio through the dark to the nearest village before receiving hospital treatment.

The climbers had planned to scale the Copa summit in the Cordillera Blanca, one of Peru's most celebrated mountain ranges.

Climbers normally acclimatise in the town of Huaraz, 250 miles north of Peru's capital Lima, to avoid the worst effects of altitude sickness.

Peru's minister for foreign trade and tourism, Mercedes Aráoz, said: "These sorts of problems occur everywhere and we are going to take action over this. But I must point out that the number of robberies on tourists has gone down."