TRIBUTES have been paid to "a true legend of the climbing world" from Gwynedd who died this week.

Joe Brown, 89, died at his home in Llanberis on Wednesday night.

Although he was born in Manchester, Mr Brown moved to the Gwynedd village in the mid-1960s to open his first climber's shop.

In 1955, he made history when he and fellow climber George Band, scaled Kanchenjunga’s south-west face, which is known for being one of the Himalaya's most difficult peaks.

Locally, he was one of the first to ascend on some of Snowdonia's more difficult routes including Dinas Cromlech in the Llanberis Pass.

Mr Brown was appointed an MBE, and later a CBE, for his services to rock climbing and mountaineering.

North Wales Chronicle:

Joe Brown died aged 89 on Wednesday night. PICTURE: Association of Mountaineering Instructors.

The Association of Mountaineering Instructors paid tribute to him saying: "He inspired every single one of our members and Joe was an Instructor himself.

"The routes he put up in the UK, the Alps and the Himalaya in the 50s, 60s and 70s were incredible. With routes like Cenotaph Corner on Dinas Cromlech, Shrike, November, Llithrig, Vember on Clogwyn D’ur Ardu (Cloggy), The Unconquerables at Stanage, Great slab at Froggatt Joe set a new benchmark in difficulty.

"He went over to the Alps and climbed the hardest routes in Chamonix at the time in half the time. With Don Whillans they knocked days off the fastest time up the West face of the Dru.

"His autobiography "The Hard Years" was a text of our youth. A true legend of the climbing world has past."

A spokesperson for his company Joe Brown's Shops added: "It is with profound sadness that we have to share with you the passing of Joe Brown.

"We have been in contact with his wife Val this morning to pass on our love and condolences and will share more information in line with his families wishes. In our hearts, Joe will continue to climb evermore".

Commenting on social media posts dedicated to Mr Brown, many people described him as a "legend of rock climbing" and described him as an "inspiration".