Three Maltese climbers have started their final training ahead of the first ever Maltese attempt to conquer Mount Everest, in May.

Gregory Attard, Robert Gatt and Marco Cremona are no newcomers to the challenges of mountaineering, having climbed Mt Cho Oyu last year to place the Maltese flag on the world's sixth highest peak at a temperature of minus 29 degrees.

That climb, within sight of Mt Everest, was held in preparation for this year's challenge to reach the 'roof of the world' at 8,850 metres.

The climbers explained today that their expedition would take them 61 days, including an acclimatisation climb on the 6,150 metre Nirekha peak. They hope to reach the top of Mt Everest on May 14, on the 49th day of their expedition.

Assisting them will be world famous climber Victor Saunders and a local Sherpa who has climbed the mountain 13 times - once every year since he turned 20.

"We are not underestimating the difficulties, being so far from medical assistance, even a simple fracture can have serious consequences," Dr Attard said.

The final preparations will include a two-day climb of Mt Etna in an expedition which normally takes four days, and a march all around Malta in which the public will be invited to take part. The climbers will then spend the night in a blast freezer at a temperature of minus 46 degrees at the Dewfresh factory and members of the public would be able to join them for 10 minutes at a time.

Preparations for the expedition actually started two years ago and have included a strict diet regime and cardio vascular and other physical exercise.

Mr Cremona said that the Everest expedition would cost the climbers €100,000. They will fork out some of the money, but are also receiving assistance by Bank of Valletta and Duracell.