THE FIRST permanent exhibition to celebrate British mountaineering has opened at the Rheged Discovery Centre, near Penrith.

The Helly Hensen National Mountaineering Exhibition is formed around six 'base camps' and includes original items used by some of the great British climbers, together with archival and new film footage.

The Mountain Heritage Trust, whose chairman is Sir Chris Bonington (pictured above), will be looking after the unique exhibition and will be applying for grants to fund the creation of an archive, as well as asking the public to help them in their search for artefacts.

Speaking at a preview of the exhibition, Sir Chris said the trust hoped to conserve, preserve and develop the collection in ways yet to be conceived.

Among future plans, he said, was a database which would record the location of artefacts, some of which he felt were still "tucked away" in

cellars and lofts, waiting for someone to discover them.

Looking to the future, he spoke of the possibility of a school or institute of mountain landscape studies, linked with a local university.

The exhibition, said Sir Chris, was designed to appeal to mountaineers and climbers, as well as ordinary members of the public.

Visitors are taken on a ' journey' through the exhibition, guided by a series of interactive video clips, with commentary by radio personality, John Peel.

Among the many artefacts already included in the exhibition, is Edward Whymper's alpenstock, on loan from the Alpine Club of Great Britain.

Later this year it is hoped to incorporate the full collection of material recovered from the body of George Mallory, on loan from the Royal Georgraphical Society, which will be on display with items from the Sandy Irvine Trust, to celebrate the achievements of Mallory and Irvine.

The climbers disappeared on Mount Everest in 1924, and a research expedition in 1999 discovered Mallory's body.