Missing climber searches continue

Ben Cheek was advised not to make the solo attempt

Searches are continuing for a British mountaineer who went missing during a solo attempt on a summit in northern Pakistan.

Ben Cheek, 28, from Manchester, is 12 days overdue on his scheduled return from the Shimshal Whitehorn peak area.

Two Italian climbers stranded on their descent in the nearby Nanga Parbat region were rescued on Thursday.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said on Tuesday attempts were still being made to locate Mr Cheek.

Last week his sister, Laura Cheek, told the BBC he had previously been in "dire situations" and survived for long periods of time in extreme conditions.

Helicopter searches

Mr Cheek, a research biologist originally from Berwickshire in Scotland, decided to make the attempt alone on 11 July.

The experienced climber embarked on the solo climb after taking part in a four-man expedition to the 25,863ft (7,833m) Distaghil Sar North Ridge, which the group failed to summit.

He was due to return four days later but has not been seen since.

Two colleagues from the Distaghil expedition, leader Bruce Normand and Peter Thompson, are co-ordinating a search and rescue mission from Shimshal village.

The Pakistani military agreed to let its helicopter pilots fly out in the search when the weather relents.