Oldham’s Afruz Miah climbing North Africa's tallest mountain

Afruz Miah BEM, who has previously scaled Ben Nevis in aid of charity, is climbing Toubkal, in southwestern Morocco.

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The Oldhamer is scaling the mountain, which at 4,167m (13,671 ft) above sea level is the highest in North Africa, in aid of three causes.

The fundraiser, who last year was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his charity work, is climbing alongside seven others.

The team expects to reach the summit today (October 12).

The team are climbing the mountain (Image: Afruz Miah/GRT)

Originally climbing to support a blind school in Kashmir, the climb is now also set to support victims of the September 8 Morrocan earthquake and to provide support for civilians in Gaza during the current conflict.

A fundraiser set up for the climb has reached more than £18,000 in donations.

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Last year, Afruz was one of just 2,000 people from across the world invited to Westminster Abbey to witness the coronation of King Charles III.

Speaking about the Moroccan earthquake last month, Afruz told of the devastation affecting the country.

He said: “It’s heartbreaking, generations being wiped out, people sleeping rough on the floors, they’ve lost everything.

“In that sense, we, especially working in the charity sector, have seen it before. You can never prepare for things like this, you just have to get on with it. We’ve got a team on the ground working 24 hours to support those affected with hot meals, hygiene, medical aid, and sanitary items.”

The United Nations estimates that 300,000 people were affected by the earthquake, the most powerful to hit Morocco in 120 years and made more dangerous by its relatively shallow depth.