FROM Nuttall Park – to Mount Everest Base Camp.

That is how far one Rammy Rock has travelled thanks to intrepid Ramsbottom explorer Melanie Southworth.

The adventurer, who made it to the summit of the world’s highest mountain back in 2016, has fulfilled a promise to a friend by taking the rock on the 4,500-mile trip from her home to Base Camp.

Sharon Unsworth made the suggestion to her friend after taking part in the new craze that is Rammy Rocks with six-year-old grandson Kyle Atherden.

And this morning, she received a photograph of Ms Southworth holding a rock designed by Kyle, while stood next to Peter Hillary, the son of New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary.

The rock's design features Peel Tower, the monument to former British Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel, which stands on top of Holcombe Hill.

Ms Unsworth said: “A couple of months ago, Melanie said she was going to Everest Base Camp and asked if she could take a Rammy Rock, so I knew it was going.

“She sent me a message today to say she had a picture of Peter Hillary holding the rock at Base Camp.

“She has been working alongside him while she has been over there.”

Ms Southworth has travelled to Nepal to guide two back-to-back expeditions to Everest Base Camp and climb the 6000-metre high mountain Lobuche East, which overlooks the base camp.

She has hidden the rock within the Khumbu Valley for other trekkers and climbers to find in the hope that they will hide it again themselves.

“If only she had known someone who could have taken it up to the top,” said Ms Unsworth.

“She has hidden it, though, so you never know who might find it. A trekker or a climber might take it all the way to the top.”

After seeing how far his rock had travelled, Ms Unsworth says Kyle, who attends Springside Primary School, could not believe his eyes.

She said: “He loves finding and painting the rocks, and loves the mountains, so he’s absolutely made up with this, it’s just incredible.

“He paints between 10 and 20 every weekend which he goes to hide around Burrs and Nuttall Park.

“This shows just how far Rammy Rocks can travel.”

Ms Southworth said: "I brought Kyle's Rammy Rock to Everest Base Camp because I love the town where I was born and am very proud of what it has become over the years.

"It is full of incredible people doing incredible things, and the talent of those involved in Rammy Rocks is phenomenal, and should be celebrated.

"Kyle is only six years old and his rock is fabulous. Since I can't bring Everest to him, I thought I'd take a little bit of him to Everest."

The rocks craze was established around six months ago when two Ramsbottom parents, Sigrid Van Den Brand and Helen Idle, wanted to introduce their children to a healthy new hobby.

The idea was to get children to paint and varnish stones then hide them for others to discover.

The pair created a Facebook page, which has since gained over 10,000 likes, so they could share the activity with others.

The activity encourages children to move away from their phone and tablet screen by doing craft and going outside.

Participants can share their rocks on the page to challenge others to find them.

There are no rules to the designs, which vary from children’s TV characters to more intricate and artistic designs involving an array of colours, or the ages of those who take part.

The first ever Rammyrocks Festival, which saw people get together to paint, find and hide rocks, was held on March 31.

More information on Rammy Rocks can be found on the group’s Facebook page.