The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) used by successive governments to pay for new schools and hospitals is poor value for money, MPs have said.

The Treasury select committee said PFI was no more efficient than other forms of borrowing and it was "illusory" that it shielded the taxpayer from risk.
Government had become "addicted" to PFI, the committee's Tory chair said.
A government source said it had already acted to make PFI more transparent and rigorous and cut the cost of projects.
Following criticism that the true costs of PFI were being hidden "off balance sheet" and excluded from government debt calculations, the coalition published details of total PFI liabilities for the first time last year alongside the national accounts.
PFI was introduced by John Major's Conservative government in 1992 as a way of bringing in private funding to pay for major public infrastructure projects.
It was widely used by Labour between 1997 and 2010 but faced growing criticism for the costs involved and the ultimate liabilities for the taxpayer in the event of projects going wrong - such as the collapse of London Underground maintenance firm Metronet in 2008.
In a critical report, the cross-party Treasury select committee said the long-term expense of PFI deals - where the private sector shoulders the upfront cost and is typically repaid by the taxpayer over a 30-year period - were now much higher than more conventional forms of borrowing.
Due to the financing costs involved, it said paying off a £1bn debt incurred through PFI cost the taxpayer equivalent to a direct government debt of £1.7bn.
PFI had become the default option for many public bodies as initial procurement costs were comparatively low, the MPs said, but too often the size of the financial commitments undertaken and their impact on future budgets was not taken into account at the time.
"We believe that a financial model that routinely finds in favour of the PFI route, after the significant increases in finance costs in the wake of the financial crisis is unlikely to be fundamentally sound," the report concluded.
"We do not believe that PFI can be relied upon to provide good value for money without substantial reform."
The report found little evidence that PFI-funded buildings were of higher quality or more innovative in their design than those procured by other means or that contractors were incentivised to maintain finished buildings to a higher standard.
"PFI means getting something now and paying later," Andrew Tyrie, the Tory MP who chairs the committee, said.
"Any Whitehall department could be excused for becoming addicted to that. We cannot carry on as were are, expecting the next generation of taxpayers to pick up the tab. PFI should only be used where we can show clear benefits for the taxpayer."
An aide to the chancellor said the government had already taken action to ensure a "level playing field" between PFI and other public procurement methods and to address some of the "perverse incentives" surrounding PFI identified by the committee.
"We have been saying for a long time that the PFI system we inherited was completely discredited," he said. "That's why we are reforming it so it is genuinely transparent and only used when it provides value for money for the taxpayer.
"So far we have announced plans to save £1.5bn off existing projects, abolished PFI credits so PFI doesn't have an advantage over other forms of public procurement and strengthened the approval process for approving projects."
Labour defended its use of the PFI system when it was in government, saying it had been used to deliver hundreds of new public facilities and the biggest ever hospital building programme.
Kerry McCarthy, Labour's shadow treasury minister, said clear guidelines were in place to ensure it was only used if it was deemed value for money compared with public sector routes.
"The Tory-led government has continued to use the PFI scheme, the Treasury has reportedly signed off on more than 60 projects so far totalling close to £7bn," she said.
"This suggests that they believe it can be a value for money means of generating investment in our public services."
The CBI said the government needed to decide how PFI would develop in the future as investors needed certainty and the economy badly needed private investment.
"With the state of the public finances, it is absolutely essential we attract the billions of pounds of private finance needed to upgrade our national infrastructure and boost jobs and growth," said its deputy director general Neil Bentley.
"It is worth remembering that without PFI we would not have seen hundreds of much-needed hospitals, schools and homes delivered on time and within budget."


British actor Kenny Baker, who starred as R2-D2 in six Star Wars films, has died aged 81 after a long illness, his niece has confirmed.

Baker made his name as the robot in the first Star Wars film in 1977 alongside Anthony Daniels's C-3PO character.
Star Wars creator George Lucas paid tribute to a "real gentleman" and Mark Hamill - Luke Skywalker in the films - said he had lost "a lifelong friend".
Born in Birmingham, Baker's other films include Time Bandits and Flash Gordon.
After starring in the original Star Wars film he went on to appear in the sequels, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, and the three prequels between 1999 and 2005.
He later appeared at Star Wars fan conventions across the world.
Baker's agent Johnny Mans said the actor had been ill for a couple of years.
He said: "Kenny was truly a great friend, one of the nicest guys you could ever wish to meet, and a fabulous and talented performer."
Mans described him as "a one-off" saying he would "never forget the laughs we shared over the years".
"He will be sadly missed," he added.
Lucas said: "Kenny Baker was a real gentleman as well as an incredible trooper who always worked hard under difficult circumstances.
"A talented vaudevillian who could always make everybody laugh, Kenny was truly the heart and soul of R2-D2 and will be missed by all his fans and everyone who knew him."
Baker's nephew, Drew Myerscough, said he had cared for Baker for "eight or nine years" after he developed respiratory problems.
He said his uncle, who lived in Preston, had a passion for wildlife documentaries and had "a liking for lasagne".
"He was just a normal, down-to-earth, regular guy that enjoyed life," he told the BBC.
He said the pair "rarely" discussed Star Wars, but added: "His fans worldwide kept him going and he loved nothing more than going to conventions and meeting everybody - it really gave him that extra lease of life."
The 3ft 8in (1.12m) actor began performing in 1950 at the age of 16, working as a circus clown and in pantomime.
Baker initially turned down the role of mischievous droid R2-D2, famous for his whistles and beeps. In an interview on his website he recalled telling George Lucas: "I don't want to be stuck in a robot, what for, for goodness' sake?
He added: "I said, 'I'll help you out, I'll do you a favour.' George said, 'You've got to do it, we can't find anyone else. You're small, to get into it [the costume], and you're strong enough to be able to move in it,' - and they couldn't use kids.
"I could work all hours, so I was a godsend to them. They'd made the robot in rough form and I was the only one around at the time that was just right for it.
"I got into it and they put the lid on me like a boiled egg."
In another interview, Baker said Sir Alec Guinness's decision to appear in Star Wars convinced him to sign up.
"I thought if Alec Guinness is in it, he knows more than I do about filming, that's for sure. It must be a decent film otherwise he wouldn't be in it."
Writing on Twitter, Hamill said: "Goodbye #KennyBaker A lifelong loyal friend-I loved his optimism & determination He WAS the droid I was looking for!"
Ewan McGregor, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the three Star Wars prequels, tweeted: "So sorry to hear about this. It was lovely working with Kenny."
The studio behind the original Star Wars films, 20th Century Fox, posted a still of R2-D2 and C-3PO and said: "Rest in peace, Kenny Baker, the heart and soul of R2-D2."
Actor Daniel Logan, who played Boba Fett in 2002's Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, tweeted: "So sad to hear one of my dearest friends passed away. Rest in peace Kenny Baker. Love you. Will miss you!"
In a statement on starwars.com, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said: "There is no Star Wars without R2-D2, and Kenny defined who R2-D2 was and is."
Baker was a consultant on the last Star Wars production - The Force Awakens - but British actor Jimmy Vee was already lined up to take on the role of R2-D2 in the next film, due for release in 2017.
Despite the fame R2-D2 brought him, Baker told the BBC in 2001 that his own favourite screen role was as Fidgit in 1981's Time Bandits.
The comic fantasy about a boy who joins a group of time-travelling dwarves who hunt for treasure to steal starred Sean Connery and John Cleese.
"The director Terry Gilliam's such a nutcase, he's so enthusiastic, you can't help enjoy it. It was just a fun film to make," Baker said.
A father of two, Baker's wife Eileen died in 1993.
On his website, Baker also recalled working with comedians including Ken Dodd, Little and Large, Russ Abbot, Ben Elton, Dick Emery and Dave Allen and once meeting Laurel and Hardy.
He became part of a musical comedy act called The Mini Tones and later performed with his friend Jack Purvis in nightclubs.
Both men went on to appear in the original Star Wars film which was shot at Elstree studios in 1976, with Purvis playing the chief Jawa.
In 1978, as R2-D2, Baker put his footprints into concrete outside Graumann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
Baker also appeared on screen in Mona Lisa, Amadeus, and The Elephant Man.


Bollywood stars have joined hundreds expressing outrage after a top Indian newspaper published a photo and report on actress Deepika Padukone's cleavage.

On Sunday the Times of India tweeted a photo taken last year with a link to a web photo gallery and caption: "OMG: Deepika Padukone's cleavage show".
An angry Padukone responded on Twitter: "YES! I am a Woman. I have breasts AND a cleavage! You got a problem!!??"
The daily later put out a tweet urging her to consider it a compliment.
By Geeta PandeyBBC News, Delhi
The Bollywood actresses speaking out on sexism
The newspaper has since removed the original tweet about Padukone's dress, which she wore to a film launch last year.
"Supposedly India's 'LEADING' newspaper and this is 'NEWS'!!??," Padukone wrote on her Twitter account on Sunday.
"Don't talk about Woman's Empowerment when YOU don't know how to RESPECT Women!" she added.
Several Bollywood celebrities and hundreds of fans have come out in support of the actress and #IStandWithDeepikaPadukone was the top trend on Twitter in India on Monday.
"Appalled....shocked and disgusted at the level of disrespect shown. Deepika or any women in the world cannot and should not stand for this!!" tweeted producer, director Karan Johar.
"I just read... about @deepikapadukone retort to cheap sensational journalism, well done girl," actor Arjun Rampal wrote on Twitter.
"Kudos to Deepika for being a strong woman and speaking up!," tweeted fashion designers Gauri & Nainika.
Much of the outrage is summarised by the comment posted by Hindustan Times columnist Madhavan Narayanan.
Many ordinary Indian women have also poured onto Twitter to voice their respect for her stand.
Following criticism, the Times of India tweeted to the actress that the report was meant to be a "compliment": "You look so great that we want to make sure everyone knew! :)"
The newspaper's defence, however, failed to placate many and actress Nimrat Kaur tweeted: "Dear @TOIEntertain... with this 'compliment' , I shudder to think who this 'everyone' is you're reaching out to?"
But some tweets adopted a more sceptical approach to the torrent of tweets in support of Deepika.
Padukone, daughter of badminton player Prakash Padukone, is one of India's most successful models and actresses.
She made her acting debut in 2006 with a Kannada-language film, but found instant fame one year later with her Bollywood debut Om Shanti Om where she was cast opposite superstar Shahrukh Khan.
She has taken the lead in nearly a dozen films and her latest - Finding Fanny - was released on Friday.


League Two club Yeovil Town have signed Cardiff City defender Tom James and Bournemouth forward Brandon Goodship.

Both players arrive on free transfers after contracts at their previous clubs were cancelled by mutual consent.
Former Wales Under-19 player James, 20, played in one Bluebirds game, as a late substitute in a 2014 top-flight match.
Goodship, 22, spent the second half of last season on loan at Huish Park, before a loan spell at non-league Braintree Town earlier this term.
He did not make a senior first-team appearance for the Cherries, but did previously score once in 10 league matches for Yeovil.
The Glovers are 16th in the table, nine points below the play-off places and nine points above the relegation zone.
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page or visit our Premier League tracker here.
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PayPal has been valued at almost $50bn (£34bn) after splitting from eBay and relisting on Nasdaq.

The online payment firm formally separated from parent company eBay on Friday, 10 months after the move was first announced.
Analysts said the split had enabled investors to evaluate the two companies' growth prospects separately.
Shares in PayPayl rose 6.5%, or $2.51, to $40.90 in New York.
Paypal's revenues rose 16% in the second quarter - more than double eBay's 7% increase in the same period.
The separation will give Paypal the freedom to work with other potential partners, such as marketplaces like Amazon or Alibaba and increase its market share.
Paypal chief executive Dan Schulman said its status as an independent company was a "tremendous opportunity".
"We are focused on leveraging our strengths to drive long-term growth for our company and shareholders," he said.
JP Morgan analysts described Paypal as a "gorilla" in the online payments marketplace and said its "global scale and brand recognition" would help its growth.
However, this may not translate easily into new areas.
"User engagement is changing, and the competitive advantages PayPal enjoyed in the traditional online commerce channel do not necessarily carry over into the mobile and offline worlds, in our view," JP Morgan added.
MCH  analyst, James Cakmak said Paypal was now the only truly independent player in the digital online marketplace.
"It would take a lot of time and a lot of resources for any rival to catch up," he said. But he said it was unlikely that the shares would continue to increase due to the already "very robust growth outlook" factored into the share price.
PayPal, which was founded by a group of investors including venture capitalist Peter Thiel and Tesla Motors boss Elon Musk in 1998, first listed on Nasdaq in 2002 and was bought later that year by eBay.
The decision to split the two companies came after activist investor Carl Icahn last year pushed for the separation - a move initially resisted by eBay.
EBay chief executive John Donahoe subsequently said a "thorough strategic review" had shown the board that keeping the two companies together was becoming "less advantageous to each business strategically and competitively".
The two businesses will continue to have some links, with eBay agreeing not to reduce the volume of transactions it puts through PayPal for the next five years.


Six people have been sentenced at the end of what Hampshire police described as its biggest ever drugs inquiry.

They were part of a Manchester-based gang which the force said controlled most of the heroin and cocaine trade in Southampton.
The six received sentences ranging from suspended jail terms to five-and-a-half years in prison.
In May, the gang's three leaders were sentenced to between nine and 12 years.
The gang's leaders were:
All three gang leaders were convicted of two counts of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and one count of money laundering.
Judge Peter Ralls QC told Southampton Crown Court the trio ran a "sophisticated and highly organised drug network".
Police said the group known as the Manchester Boys or Manks were thought to have controlled two-thirds of the heroin and cocaine market in Southampton, as well as establishing supply lines in Winchester and Brighton.
Over a period of 14 months, couriers made dozens of runs between Manchester and Southampton, exchanging drugs and cash at rendezvous points in the Midlands.
Hampshire Constabulary said 30 people had been convicted as part of Operation Buntline - the first time it had taken out an entire drugs network from top to bottom.
Det Ch Insp Ellie Hurd said: "There is a big market for class A drugs in certain parts of Hampshire.
"Every month we are arresting people involved in the supply of drugs and we are seizing cash, drugs and sometimes firearms."


Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola does not know if Claudio Bravo will play again this season after the keeper was injured during Thursday's Premier draw with cross-city rivals United.

The 34-year-old, who went off on a stretcher after hurting himself while catching a cross and clearing the ball, was replaced by Willy Caballero.
"Of course he has an injury, probably [out] for some weeks," said Guardiola,
"I don't know if he will be available again this season."
The 0-0 draw - in which Bravo came off after 79 minutes - was only his sixth clean sheet in 22 Premier League games since his £15.4m summer move from Barcelona.


Seattle has passed a measure allowing drivers of smartphone-based taxi services such as Uber to join a union.

The move - a first in the US - is a setback for the companies, which have sought to avoid regulations that apply to traditional taxi services.
Companies such as Uber say their drivers are independent contractors and do not pay for their health benefits, fuel or vehicle upkeep.
The companies have vowed to challenge the legislation in court.
"My intent is to make sure that the people, the drivers, the workers in our community continue to have access to good wage jobs," said Seattle council member Mike O'Brien.
Saad Melouchi, 30, who drives for Uber, said: "This is amazing. I'm so happy for myself and for other drivers."
The measure, which was passed unanimously by the city council to cheers, allows the drivers to collectively bargain with the companies on issues such as pay and working conditions.
However, Uber, Lyft and others argue that federal labour law prohibits cities from regulating collective bargaining.
The ordinance could also allow drivers to set rates, violating federal antitrust laws, the companies said.
Opponents say the measure will costly and difficult for Seattle to carry out.
The city's council leaders have been a strong advocate of workers' rights, recently enacting a $15 an hour minimum wage and requiring most employers to provide sick leave.
Mayor Ed Murray said he supported union rights for workers but had concerns about the measure. He anticipated a costly legal battle with the companies.
Uber also faces legal action in California on behalf of drivers who want to be considered full-time employees rather than contractors.


An east Belfast businessman has pledged that a defibrillator smashed by vandals at the weekend will be back in working order as soon as possible.

The defibrillator had only been installed at Crymble and Sons funeral directors for a week when it was vandalised on Sunday afternoon.
One man has been arrested following the incident.
Andrew Crymble said they had installed the defribillator at their own cost to give something back to the community.
He watched the vandalism happening at the Woodstock Road premises on a live CCTV feed.
"I watched four gentlemen working with the defibrillator and then a gentleman punching the defibrillator," Mr Crymble said.
"This morning, we're going to put a new pane of glass into the front and get the machine checked over and put back into action.
"This will not stop this machine being here, it will stay here."
Mr Crymble added: "One of the reasons I did it was that I have a friend whose oldest brother passed away about six weeks ago.
"What sustained his life for a period of time was a defibrillator [used] by his work colleagues."


MSPs who act as aides to Scottish government ministers will no longer be able to sit on committees which scrutinise their bosses.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a change to the ministerial code after opposition MSPs raised concerns about conflicts of interest.
Parliamentary liaison officers will now not be able to take part in committees concerning their minister's portfolio.
The move was welcomed by opposition parties as "the right decision".
Parliamentary liaison officers (PLOs) are MSPs appointed to assist ministers with their duties, and to act as a link between parliament and government.
When the current team was set up, a PLO working for each of the government's cabinet secretaries was also appointed to the committee tasked with scrutinising the relevant minister's work.
In practice, this could see the aides tasked with questioning their own minister during committee sessions.
Each of Holyrood's opposition parties raised concerns about what they referred to a "stitch up" and an attempt to "stack" Holyrood's committees with government "cheerleaders".
When these concerns were first raised, a spokesman for the SNP dismissed them as "hysteria", saying the responsibilities held by aides would "in no sense" prevent them from properly scrutinising the government.
Ms Sturgeon has now decided that the system should be changed - although she stressed that there was "no evidence of any conflict of interest".
She said it was important that aides could carry out their work "with the full confidence of both ministers and the parliamentary committees on which they serve".
She continued: "I believe that the parliamentary liaison officers who are currently in post fulfil that requirement admirably, and there has been no evidence of any conflict of interest.
"At the same time, I have listened carefully to the case made by those calling for change, and so the updated guidelines I am publishing today will remove even the perception of any conflict of interest in the role of PLOs.
"The change is part of the updated Ministerial Code, which sets the highest standards of propriety and transparency for Scottish government ministers. I will continue to lead by example in following the letter and spirit of this code, and I expect that all ministers will do likewise."
The move brings Holyrood's codes into line with those at Westminster, where parliamentary private secretaries - the equivalent of the devolved parliament's PLOs - are not allowed to sit on committees scrutinising their ministers.
The change was welcomed by opposition parties.
The four Scottish Conservative committee conveners all wrote to Ms Sturgeon demanding a change to the rules, and justice committee head Margaret Mitchell said she was glad the first minister had "seen sense".
She added: "Serving on a committee that scrutinises your boss is a clear conflict of interest, and in the interests of the integrity of the parliament the situation had to change.
"Robust scrutiny is an absolute necessity within the parliament's committee system. However it is deeply concerning that the SNP thought it was acceptable for these PLOs to be on committees in the first place."
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale also wrote to Ms Sturgeon urging a change, and the party's MSP James Kelly, who had vowed to raise the matter with Holyrood's parliamentary bureau, said it was the "right decision".
He added: "It should not have taken pressure from Labour to make the government see sense. An assistant to a cabinet minister cannot provide the type of scrutiny that government departments need and which committees should deliver. These PLOs would in effect have been scrutinising themselves."
Patrick Harvie of the Scottish Greens also welcomed Ms Sturgeon's decision.
He said: "Over recent years it has become all too common to see MSPs who work directly for ministers sitting as members of the committees which are supposed to hold them to account, raising a clear conflict of interests.
"It has taken persistent pressure to challenge this practice, and I am pleased to see that Nicola Sturgeon has finally agreed to end it.
"When the public sees parliament questioning ministers about new laws, policy or public spending, it's essential that they can have confidence that MSPs are holding ministers to account, not the other way round."
Mike Rumbles of the Scottish Liberal Democrats also said the government had been "shamed" into a u-turn.
He said: "The idea that a Parliamentary Liaison Officer should help brief their Minister for a committee hearing before crossing the floor and asking questions of them is patently ludicrous.
"The fact that the SNP had to be shamed into taking this basic step to preserve the independence of the committee system speaks volumes about their attitude to transparency and accountability."


Shrewsbury scored three first-half goals to beat Blackpool and end a run of three league games without a win.

Nathaniel Knight-Percival opened the scoring with a brilliant overhead kick and it was 2-0 when Shaun Whalley took advantage of poor defending to score.
Andy Mangan blasted in a loose ball for a third goal after 29 minutes.
However, Tom Aldred drove in from 15 yards before Danny Philliskirk fired into the bottom corner, but goalkeeper Jayson Leutwiler ensured it stayed 3-2.
Leutwiler tipped Brad Potts' shot onto the bar to keep the points and move Shrewsbury up to 19th, level on points with Blackpool in 18th.
Shrewsbury Town manager Micky Mellon told BBC Shropshire:
"It's a great result and terrific performance and we have to be very pleased with the victory today.
"When we lost that second goal from a set-play it did give Blackpool a sense of belief - but we have a number of different qualities to win football matches and that was proven today."


A painting by "Pitman painter" Norman Cornish has been discovered being used as a bath panel in his former home.

The picture of Men Drinking in a Pub appears to have another work on the reverse, partly covered by wall paint.
The piece was found during renovation of the artist's previous home in Whitworth Terrace, Spennymoor, by new owners Joe and Deborah Smith.
Auctioneer and art expert John Anderson said it was "a piece of salvage that may yield a masterpiece".
"Most artists, if suddenly touched by the muse will grab whatever is available to work out the inspiration," he said.
The artist, who died last year, started working in the mines when he was 14 and became famous for his paintings of everyday life in the industrial North East after attending the Pitman's Academy.
"In this case, presumably, he looked at it and thought 'there's a painting I'm not satisfied with'," said Mr Anderson.
"Rather than going to the shop when he was panelling the bathroom cupboard, this was a cheap and convenient expedient."
Mrs Smith, whose father was Cornish's cousin, said the panel was not signed but "it is definitely a Cornish because his son-in-law Michael has authenticated it and has written a letter of authentication".
The painting is to be auctioned by Anderson and Garland in September.
An early self-portrait of the artist with a hidden portrait of his wife on the other side was sold by the auctioneers for Â£13,500 in January.


Police had to separate West Ham and Middlesbrough fans after they clashed during disturbances outside the Hammers' new London Stadium.

Officers had to intervene when violence flared in the Olympic Park following Saturday's 1-1 draw between the two Premier League clubs.
Police escorted Middlesbrough fans away from the stadium while cordoning off some West Ham supporters.
The trouble followed recent crowd disturbances inside the stadium.
At the first Premier League match at the venue - against Bournemouth on 21 August - some fans arrived with tickets for seats that did not exist, while fighting broke out between rival supporters outside the stadium.
West Ham confirmed that 10 fans were ejected from the stadium during the 4-2 defeat by Watford last month.
Some of the disturbances inside the ground are believed to be over persistent standing during matches.
The club asked E20, which owns the club's London Stadium home, to ensure there is a police presence in the ground after recent trouble.
But the Metropolitan Police turned down the request because the £700m ground does not have a "satisfactory" radio system.
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Great Britain's Jonathan Tiernan-Locke has been ruled out of Sunday's elite race at the Road World Championships.

The 28-year-old 2012 Tour of Britain winner, who is replaced by Luke Rowe, tweeted: "Sorry I had to withdraw, don't have the form to help the lads."
Tour de France winner Chris Froome will lead the eight-man British team, which also includes Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish.
Wiggins took time trial silver in Tuscany, Italy on Wednesday.
Rowe, 23, who won stage one of the Tour of Britain in 2012, tweeted: "Worlds this Sunday, looking forward to having a dabble and do what I can to help Froome. Always good to get a ride in the worlds."
Geraint Thomas, Ian Stannard, Steve Cummings, and Josh Edmondson make up the rest of the Britain team.


What a day of contrasting emotions for England in the third Test against West Indies in Barbados.

On one hand, there was sheer delight for captain Alastair Cook as he finally ended his century drought with a tough, determined hundred; on the other hand, the tourists finished day one firmly on the back foot, amid despair for Cook's opening partner Jonathan Trott.
I thought Cook batted really well for his 105: he played with great determination, an instinct for which balls to play and which to leave, and his foot movement was excellent.
By contrast, Trott looked nervy and it is clear that his forward movement towards the short ball has become a fatal technical flaw. He can no longer continue to open the batting.
Media playback is not supported on this device
That is the harsh reality of international sport: some careers can be revitalised by a brilliant innings while others must come to a sad end.
Cook's century was hugely significant, both for himself and the team. He has been scoring plenty of runs of late, but hundreds are important milestones for batsmen and for someone who was so used to reeling them off, to go two years without one must have eaten away at his confidence.
You could see in his reaction just how much it meant to him to finally get the monkey off his back, and surely all this negativity around him can now be finally put to bed.
Cook is never going to be a batsman of great aesthetic beauty, but you don't need your openers to be free-scoring - you've got middle-order players like Moeen Ali for that.
Cook's great virtue is that he's a tough nut to crack, and that's what makes him an ideal opening batsman.
Yes, he made mistakes. He ran out Moeen and he played a poor shot to lose his wicket just before the close, but he batted all day in 100 degree-heat while wickets were tumbling around him.
That showed an immense amount of fortitude. If people still want to be negative about Cook, I'm afraid they've got a problem.
The real issue is that Cook now needs an opening partner for the summer Tests against New Zealand and Australia.
It is time to acknowledge that the Trott experiment is over. He has had a mighty fine career for England and it's a shame that it's ended like this, batting out of position and being asked to do a job that doesn't come naturally to him.
Since the middle order is performing so well, there's no way back for him now.
It's a dreadful shame for Trott personally, but at least England have a definitive answer. If Adam Lyth had come in for this match and failed, and Trott had gone away and scored runs for Warwickshire, that could have clouded the issue.
Now it looks as though Lyth will have to come in and face two world-class bowling attacks on English wickets - not an ideal situation, but one that England will have to deal with.
Before that, they have plenty of work to do to ensure that they win this series. West Indies are definitely ahead of the game after the first day - when you win the toss and choose to bat, you don't expect to be 240-7 at the close.
But I don't think the pitch looks as good as everyone expected - it's a dry and uneven, with a bit of early spin. If England can get up to 300, this match will be very evenly poised.
Jonathan Agnew was speaking to BBC Sport's James Gheerbrant.


A rare case of the Zika virus being transmitted through sex, not a mosquito bite, has been reported in the US.

A patient infected in Dallas, Texas, is likely to have been infected by sexual contact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) told the BBC.
The person had not travelled to infected areas but their partner had returned from Venezuela.
Zika is carried by mosquitoes and has been linked to thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains.
It is spreading through the Americas and the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the disease linked to the virus a global public health emergency.
What you need to know Key questions answered about the virus and its spread
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The American Red Cross has meanwhile urged prospective blood donors returning from Zika-hit countries to wait at least 28 days before donating their blood.
The "self-deferral" should apply to people returning from Mexico, the Caribbean or Central or South America during the past four weeks, the Red Cross said in a statement.
Elsewhere:
Meanwhile, Brazil - the country worst hit by the outbreak - has revealed it is investigating 3,670 suspected cases of microcephaly in babies linked to the Zika virus.
A total of 404 cases have so far been confirmed - up from 270 last week - while 709 cases have been discarded, the country's health ministry said.
The ministry also said 76 infant deaths from microcephaly, either during pregnancy or just after birth, were suspected.
Analysis: James Gallagher, health editor, BBC News website
The main way Zika is spread is by mosquitoes.
But if Zika can also spread through sex, then it poses a risk to every country not just those with the Aedes mosquito.
So far, authorities have said sexual transmission is rare, but last year they would have said any case of Zika was rare, too.
This explosive outbreak has caught the world by surprise and many key questions remain unanswered.
Exactly how common or rare is sexual transmission? Can it be spread by the 80% of people who show no symptoms? How long does the virus persist in semen? When is it safe to have sex again?
What should men do after visiting affected countries? Can women also spread the virus through sex?
However, this is not a new HIV/Aids moment. HIV infection is incurable and dramatically shortens lives without daily medication.
Zika infections are short, mild and pose a significant threat only in pregnancy.
Texas has seen seven other Zika cases all related to foreign travel.
But Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director for CDC, said this was the first case it had dealt with involving a "non-traveller".
"We don't believe this was spread through mosquito bites, but we do believe it was spread through a sexual contact."
A statement issued by the CDC said the best way to avoid Zika virus infection was "to prevent mosquito bites and to avoid exposure to semen from someone who has been exposed to Zika".
WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said the latest development would be discussed at its daily meeting later on Wednesday.
"We certainly understand the concern," he told Reuters news agency. "This needs to be investigated to understand the conditions and how often or likely sexual transmission is, and whether or not other body fluids are implicated".
It is not the first known case of sexual transmission in the US. A doctor from Colorado returning from Africa in 2008 is thought to have passed on the infection to his wife. There was a case in 2013 in French Polynesia, according to the CDC website.
The CDC recommends that pregnant women avoid travel to more than two dozen countries with Zika outbreaks, mostly in the Caribbean and Latin America, including Venezuela.
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said her government was focused on eradicating the mosquito that transmits the virus and has pledged considerable funds to do so.
European countries were warned on Wednesday that they too needed to make preparations once the Aedes mosquitoes become active on the continent during the spring and summer months.
WHO's Europe Director Zsuzsanna Jakab urged countries to act in a co-ordinated way to control the mosquitoes, inform people about the risks, keep a check on cases, step up research to understand the disease and develop vaccines.


US President Barack Obama has urged Turkey and Russia to reduce tensions, a week after Turkish jets shot down a Russian warplane.

After talks with Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Paris, Mr Obama reaffirmed US support for "Turkey's right to defend itself and its airspace".
But he stressed that Russia and Turkey should "de-escalate" their dispute.
"We all have a common enemy," Mr Obama said, referring to the so-called Islamic State (IS) group.
"I want to make sure that we focus on that threat," he said.
"Turkey is a Nato ally," he added.  "And we're very much committed to Turkey's security and its sovereignty. We discussed how Turkey and Russia can work together to de-escalate tensions and find a diplomatic path to resolve this issue."
US defence secretary Ashton Carter later said Turkey had to do more to combat Islamic State militants , saying it had not effectively controlled its borders to stop the movement of IS fighters.
Speaking in Washington, he urged Turkey to increase its resistance to the jihadists "both in the air and on the ground".
Mr Erdogan also spoke to reporters after Tuesday's meeting with the US president.  He said his government wanted to reduce tensions and was "determined to keep up the fight" against  IS.
Mr Obama and Mr Erdogan are among 150 leaders attending climate talks in Paris.
Mr Erdogan renewed his criticism of Russian air strikes against Turkmen rebels in north-western Syria, complaining that the area is being "continuously bombed".
Moscow says Turkey shot down its SU-24 warplane inside Syria on 24 November.
Turkey says the plane entered its airspace and was repeatedly warned to leave before it was downed.
Russia has insisted the plane did not cross the border and that it gave advance notice of the flight path to the US.
One Russian pilot was killed and the other rescued. A Russian marine was killed during the rescue operation.
Russia is a major ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its air strikes have targeted rebel groups, including IS.
However, Mr Obama said he expected Russia would eventually be convinced of the need for Mr Assad to leave power.
Russia's ban on food imports from Turkey, as from 1 January:
Excluded: Nuts, lemons
He cautioned that was not expecting "a 180-degree turn" in Russian strategy in the coming weeks but that "a shift in calculations" may occur over the next few months.
Turkey strongly opposes Mr Assad and has been accused of turning a blind eye to jihadist fighters crossing from its territory into Syria.
Until a few months ago, Turkey was reluctant to play an active role in the coalition against IS. However, in August it allowed the US-led coalition to begin using its airbase at Incirlik.
Russia has imposed sanctions on Turkey over the downing of the plane, including restrictions on imports of Turkish food and an end to visa-free travel.
On Monday Russian President Vladimir Putin - who is also in Paris - accused the Turkish government of attacking its jet to protect the illegal oil trade with Islamic State .
"We have every reason to think that the decision to shoot down our plane was dictated by the desire to protect the oil supply lines to Turkish territory," Mr Putin said.
IS earns much of its money from oil fields it controls in north-eastern Syria and western Iraq.
Some of the oil is sold to the Assad regime and some is smuggled through middlemen to Turkey. Mr Erdogan reiterated his denial that his government was involved in the trade.
Mr Putin also accused Turkey of harbouring "terrorist organisations" operating "in various regions of Russia, including the North Caucasus".
The Moscow government earlier said the Su-24 had been attacking "terrorists" from the North Caucasus based inside Syria when the Turkish jets attacked them.
Turkey and Russia have important economic links. Russia is Turkey's second-largest trading partner. More than three million Russian tourists visited Turkey last year.


Yeovil Town have signed Luton Town midfielder Jake Gray for an undisclosed fee on a two-year deal.

Gray, 21, scored four goals in 28 appearances for the Hatters in 2016-17 but was transfer-listed at the end of the season.
He started his career with Crystal Palace before joining Luton in August 2016.
Boss Darren Way told the club website: "He played in some very big games last season and was a consistent performer."
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


The price of everyday essentials such as food, drink and clothing would rise if the UK votes to leave the EU, former retail bosses have warned.

The ex-chief executives, who previously ran Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, M&S and B&Q, said a drop in the pound coupled with supply chain disruption would cause prices to spike.
The average household could be £580 a year worse off as a result, retail union USDAW has predicted.
Vote Leave rejected the claims.
"Independent experts are clear, EU membership and the meddling court that comes with it have put up prices and hurt our economic growth," said Vote Leave chief executive Matthew Elliott.
"The EU is costly, bureaucratic and blind to the impact it has had on people's wages and soaring energy bills."
But the retail bosses, which include former Marks and Spencer boss Marc Bolland and former Sainsbury's chief executive Justin King, insisted that a UK exit from the European Union would be "catastrophic for millions of ordinary families".
USDAW said it had calculated its £580 figure based on an expected fall in sterling in the event of the UK's exit from the EU, together with expected new tariffs imposed on imported EU goods including food, drink and clothing.
The former bosses of Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury's and B&Q already warned last month that prices would rise amid a so-called Brexit, but their ranks have swelled with the addition of the ex-chief executives of Asda and Morrisons.
Richard Lloyd, former executive director of consumer group Which?, said he was now "convinced that leaving the EU will give ordinary British families a worse deal for years to come".
"My advice to consumers is clear - this could be an expensive mistake, don't risk it," he said.
Tough competition from discount rivals together with low inflation means that overall the prices of groceries has steadily fallen.
According to consumer research firm Kantar Worldpanel the price of groceries has fallen every month since September 2014, with the average household now spending £78.10 a week in the supermarket.


A memorial plaque has been unveiled for the only British prime minister to be assassinated.

Spencer Perceval is said to have uttered "Oh, I have been murdered" after John Bellingham shot him on 11 May 1812 as he entered Parliament.
The plaque at St Stephen's Hall, which is near to where he was killed, was the idea of Michael Ellis, MP for Northampton North.
Mr Ellis said the brass plaque was a "fitting tribute" and long overdue.
Bellingham was a businessman who had built up a grievance with the government headed by Mr Perceval, who had been MP for Northampton, after the British Embassy had refused to help while he was in jail in Russia.
He waited in the lobby of the Palace of Westminster for Mr Perceval, who was on his way to attend an inquiry into Luddite riots.
Bellingham calmly walked up to him and shot him in the chest before sitting down and waiting to be arrested, reports at the time said.
He was taken to Newgate Gaol, tried and hanged in the space of just over a week.
Mr Perceval was given a memorial in Westminster Abbey.
But Mr Ellis started a campaign for another tribute after four patterned floor tiles, thought to mark where Mr Perceval fell, were removed by workmen during a recent renovation of the Palace of Westminster.
"People know more about the assassination of (US presidents) John F Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln than they do about our own prime minister," Mr Ellis said.
"When my constituents visit Parliament from Northampton, they want to see this spot and they are fascinated by this being the spot of an assassination of a former MP for the town that I now have the honour to represent."
North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham, a descendant of the assassin, also attended the unveiling.
House of Commons Speaker John Bercow insisted no grudges were held against the current Mr Bellingham as he unveiled the plaque near to the assassination spot.


The Information Commissioner's Office says it is concerned about the number of people being cold called about pensions.

It says it has received more than 1,000 complaints about calls and texts this year.
The consumer group Which? also believes unsolicited calls have increased with the arrival of pension freedom.
Both organisations have urged people of pension age to be on their guard against fraud attempts.
In the past, fraudsters trying to access savings have needed to set up fake pension schemes, before persuading victims to transfer their money.
But since pension freedom changes came into force on 6 April, anyone over 55 has been able to withdraw their pension savings and put them where they like, subject to certain conditions.
Steve Eckersley, head of enforcement at the Information Commissioner's Office, told Radio 4's Money Box that fraudsters are always looking for new opportunities.
"We always thought it could lead to an increase in the number of unlawful calls which are made. We're hoping it won't match the scale of the calls made in relation to PPI."
He believes part of the problem is people giving permission to be contacted to a firm with no obvious financial services connection.
It may then sell it onto a firm offering to help invest your pension money.
"They're saying they'll share information with affiliated members or third parties. We say they should be clear about which organisations they share their information with."
The consumer group Which? estimates that over the last two years, one in every three people over 55 has been contacted about their pension without having requested it.
Gareth Shaw, editor of Which? Money, believes the problem has increased dramatically since the start of the year.
"Two in five of the people who had been contacted had been contacted in the first three months of this year and that's actually double the whole of 2014."
He said people were being tempted by a range of services.
"Things like investment opportunities, free pension reviews, legal loopholes and early access to their pension cash. All the well-worn phrases and the warning signs that many of the industry bodies have said that people need to look out for.
"If you get a call about transferring a pension or an investment opportunity, it's not going to be from a genuine company."
Steve Eckersley, head of enforcement at the Information Commissioner's Office, warned fraudsters that his organisation has stronger powers since last month.
"Prior to April 6, we had to show that consumers had suffered substantial damage or distress.
"But since the change in the law, all we have to show is there has been a serious contravention . We can issue fines up to £500,000. "
Money Box is broadcast on Saturdays at 12:00 BST on BBC Radio 4 and repeated on Sundays at 21:00 BST. You can listen again via the BBC iPlayer or by downloading Money Box podcast.


Eddie Pepperell survived slipping down a rabbit hole and "coming off second best in an accident with his club" to secure his European Tour card for 2017.

The Oxfordshire golfer, 25, shot six under-par rounds at Qualifying School in Catalunya, finishing fifth overall.
"My swing and my game got into some pretty awful habits this year," Pepperell told BBC Radio Oxford.
"I'll be keen to make sure that doesn't happen again and I can come out of this experience a better player."
Pepperell's frustrating 2016 on the European Tour saw him finish 113th on the Race to Dubai rankings, compared to his 49th position the previous two seasons.
After missing the cut in his final event of the year at the Portugal Masters, the scramble to finish in the top 25 at Qualifying School followed.
An already nerve-wracking week then became more painful when his right ankle swelled and became infected after an on-course accident with a rabbit hole.
"I fell down a hole and had a bit of an accident with my club in the process," Pepperell joked. "My ankle came off a little bit worse for wear.
"Thankfully the physio did a good job bandaging it up and we battled through the pain."
Pepperell, who finished tied 49th at The Open in 2015 at St Andrews, hopes to kick on from testing experience of Qualifying School.
"Some golfers need to have failures sometimes," he added. "For what's happened to me this year, to come out and be a better player and learn some lessons from it, will hopefully further my career."
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A 71 year-old Chicago man has been shot and robbed in broad daylight while watering his front lawn.

A neighbour's surveillance camera captured footage of Federico LaGuardia being targeted by two attackers in the Marquette Park neighbourhood.
Mr LaGuardia was able to walk to a neighbour's house for help. He has undergone surgery and is in a fair condition, say police.
A $1,000 (Â£750) reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.
Police say two male suspects on bicycles approached Mr LaGuardia outside his home at about 11:00am on Tuesday.
One suspect demanded money, and when Mr LaGuardia refused, the assailant shoved the pensioner to the ground and shot him in the abdomen.
The robber then searched Mr LaGuardia's pockets and took his wallet.
The shooting has shocked a city that is well used to gun violence.
Willie Askew, whose surveillance camera filmed the attack, told the Chicago Tribune: "It's a damn shame."
There have been 500 murders in Chicago this year alone.


The jury in the trial of a teenager accused of deliberately running over and killing a police officer have visited the scene of the collision.

Father-of-two PC Dave Phillips, 34, died after he was hit by a pick-up truck in Wallasey, Wirral, in October.
Clayton Williams, 19, denies murder and claims he did not intend to injure the Merseyside officer.
Mr Williams had been driving a stolen Mitsubishi which hit the officer during a police pursuit, the court has heard.
Read live updates on this story and more from across Merseyside.
Jurors spent about an hour at the scene of the collision, on Wallasey Docks Link Road North.
PC Phillips and his colleague, PC Thomas Birkett, 23, had been responding to reports of a burglary before the collision.
They were attempting to stop the vehicle using a tyre-puncturing "stinger" device in Wallasey Docks Link Road North.
Court officials, barristers and the judge also attended and watched how a stinger device may have been deployed in the circumstances.
On Wednesday the court heard how the officer tried to run away moments before he was struck.
PC Birkett told the court he could see the truck "gathering speed" like "a train coming down a tunnel" before it mounted the central reservation.
The prosecution claims Mr Williams turned the vehicle to deliberately collide with PC Phillips, using the truck as "a murder weapon".
The teenager has admitted a charge of burglary during which the truck was stolen, and aggravated vehicle taking.
He denies murder, and also denies a second count of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to PC Birkett.
The trial continues.


A 3D-printed model of the blood vessels inside a woman's brain has helped surgeons practise life-saving surgery.

The surgeons needed to operate to correct a weakness, or aneurysm, in a blood vessel inside the patient's head.
Scans of the aneurysm revealed that the usual approach surgeons would take to fix it would not have worked.
3D printing is increasingly finding a role in medicine to either help doctors prepare before carrying out procedures or to make prosthetics.
After suffering vision problems and recurrent headaches, New York state resident Theresa Flint was diagnosed with an aneurysm that, if left untreated, would have proved fatal.
An aneurysm is a bulging blood vessel caused by a weakness in an artery wall that risks rupturing.
The usual way to treat such problems is to implant a metallic basket that strengthens the artery wall, said Dr Adnan Siddiqui, chief medical officer at the Jacobs Institute in Buffalo, New York, who directed the treatment.
However, scans of the weak blood vessel revealed that this approach would not work, Dr Siddiqui told the BBC.
"It was a serious problem from the standpoint that she had an extremely irregular brain aneurysm that would be tricky to treat with micro-surgery," he said.
The scans showed that the blood vessels were severely twisted and, as a result, very difficult to reach.
"There are some commonalities between all human beings," said Dr Siddiqui, "but at the end of the day our vascular tree is as different as our fingerprints."
To help the surgeons work out the best approach, the scans taken of Ms Flint's brain were turned into a 3D model with the help of 3D-printing specialist Stratasys.
It helped make a replica built of a polymer that mimics human tissue allowing the surgeons to plan their approach and practise the operation.
"While we were doing that mock procedure we realised that we had to change some of the tools we wanted to use, given her anatomy," said Dr Siddiqui.
"The day of surgery came and we tried out exactly what we thought would work best," he said, adding that Ms Flint had "done great" since the aneurysm was corrected.
Dr Siddiqui said 3D printing was increasingly being used to help plan procedures and make models of human anatomy that give surgeons a better idea of what they will encounter during an operation. Many hospitals have now established relationships with 3D printing firms to help surgical staff.
"It may not be needed for the majority of routine cases," he said, "but here its help was immeasurable."


One person has been killed and at least two people injured in a shooting near a California polling station, police say.

Witnesses said the polling station in Azusa, about 40km (25 miles) east of Los Angeles, was put on "lockdown" after shots were heard.
Police called to the scene exchanged gunfire with the attacker.
A female suspect with an automatic assault rifle has not been apprehended so far but the area is "contained", a police spokesperson said.
Unconfirmed reports suggest a second, male suspect is in the area.
An eyewitness told the Los Angeles Times he had seen "a heavily armed man" fire at least 10 rounds at people before retreating into a house.
Acting chief of police Captain Steve Hunt said the incident appeared to be focused in the residential area, rather than on the polling station itself.
Nearby buildings have been evacuated.
The Azusa Police department said one victim was dead and two were taken to hospital in critical condition.


As the country faces up to a hung parliament following an election which saw Theresa May's Conservatives stumble and Jeremy Corbyn's Labour surge, here are some other unforgettable things that happened around England on election night and the morning after.

The Conservative MP for North East Somerset arrived at the count fully stocked up with sandwiches, all tidily packed up in plastic boxes. And what delights were within? Turkey, egg and cress - and tongue.
"I didn't make them myself," he said, without telling us who did.
Young voters deliver Labour gains
England's election night in pictures
What happens when no-one wins an election?
In Maidenhead, Berkshire, Lord Buckethead finished seventh out of the 13 candidates who stood in the prime minister's constituency with 249 votes. It was the third time he'd gone up against a prime minister - standing against Margaret Thatcher in 1987 in Finchley and John Major in 1992 in Huntingdonshire.
His policies included bringing back Ceefax.
Everyone at the Mansfield count in Nottinghamshire seemed surprised by the Conservative candidate Ben Bradley's shock win - even the returning officer.
After taking to the stage, she mistakenly declared Labour's candidate, Sir Alan Meale, had been elected.
After cheers and shouts from onlookers, and smiles from the candidates behind her as she realised her error, she first put her hand to her mouth before saying: "I'm so sorry, I declare that Benjamin David Bradley has been elected and I do apologise."
A demonstrator joined the gaggle of people at the end of Downing Street, waiting for Theresa May to return from her meeting with the Queen. He'd kindly brought this "leuser" sign along.
If you're concerned wearing a rosette won't quite convey your political colours, why not take a leaf out of this Corbyn-supporter's book? A pair of brightly-coloured leggings will set you back about £30. They're also available with the faces of Donald Trump and François Hollande,
Political artist Kaya Mar wields a painting of Theresa May, Boris Johnson, David Davis and Liam Fox. Not sure why the men appear to be naked.
Independent candidate for Cumbria's Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency Paul Ellis, also known as Mr Fish Finger, puts a cheery thumbs up at Kendal Leisure Centre at the Westmorland and Lonsdale count.
He managed to win 309 votes, prompting international bafflement. A tweet from Spain said:" ¿Por qué tan poquitos?" or "why so few?"
Why indeed.
Understandably, the street on the day after an election is a hive of activity, with the media gathered outside Number 10. Less frenzied are the two resident cats - Larry from the prime minister's abode and Palmerston from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
No matter the outcome of the election and who's in power, the cats remain in their homes. They just have a change of staff.
Larry has even been tweeting:


An online archive remembering the millions of people from Britain and the Commonwealth who served in World War One has gone live.

Four-and-a-half million British army members are already included in the Lives of the First World War project.
But for many entries there is little more information than their names.
Organiser Imperial War Museums (IWM) wants families to add their own photographs, stories and memories to build a "permanent digital memorial".
The records of more than 4.5 million men and 40,000 women who served with the British army overseas are currently listed.
Millions of others will be added to the website in the coming months including the names of members of the Royal Flying Corp/Royal Air Force, the Royal Navy, the Canadian Expeditionary Force and the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Forces.
The records of almost 17,000 conscientious objectors will be included, and IWM is also hoping to list the Indian Army, home front workers, and others who made a contribution from across the empire.
By the end of the WW1 centenary commemorations in 2018, the Lives of the First World War project could contain the stories of more than eight million men and women.
Among the stories already archived are that of Sister Martha Aitken, who served in the Territorial Force Nursing Service in casualty clearing stations and military hospitals in Scotland and France; Private William Cecil Tickle of the Essex Regiment, who died in the Somme in July 1916, three days before his 18th birthday; and Thomas William Stratford, who served in China and Gallipoli before being wounded in France and discharged.
Documents such as medal and grave records, census information, family photographs and battalion diary entries record their lives, but the IWM says it is still seeking more details about them.
The project, which is free to use, is being supported by DC Thomson Family History, which runs several online ancestry websites.
Each person in the archive will have their own web page, where the public can upload photographs, write stories and recollections or add links to other records.
The IWM says the centenary of WW1 will see many families showing a renewed interest in documents, diaries, letters or photographs handed down by relatives or picked up from museums, libraries and archives.
It is encouraging people to keep original material in family collections for future generations, while uploading and sharing images of the documents on its website.
Luke Smith, IWM's digital lead for the war's centenary, said: "We need the public to help us piece together over eight million life stories, so that we can remember these people now and in the future.
"Everybody can contribute... whether they choose to simply remember someone online, upload a picture from their family album, share a story passed down through generations, or connect official records to build a full and factual picture of what happened to that person throughout the war."
World War One Centenary


The leader of Highland Council has described Flybe's decision to suspend its Inverness to London service as "disappointing".

The airline announced last week that it will stop the service from 22 February because of a lack of demand.
The daily flights began in October last year.
Council leader Drew Hendry said he was concerned about the loss of the service and said the local authority was seeking a meeting with Flybe bosses.
He said: "It seems premature to come to such a conclusion after just two months, when it must still be very early days for the new service.
"It is also disappointing that Highland Council has not been consulted in the decision."
Mr Hendry added: "Inverness remains well connected to the rest of the UK with flights to Gatwick, Belfast, Bristol and Manchester, as well as our international service to Amsterdam.
"However, it is vital for the continued economic development of the Highlands that our connectivity is sustainable and continues to grow."
Flybe said last week that it was "regrettably" suspending the service to London City Airport due to lower than anticipated passenger numbers.
The airline operated a service between Inverness and Gatwick Airport before selling the slots to Easyjet in a Â£20m deal in 2013.


A 48-year-old man has been jailed for four years after helping six people, thought to be Ukrainian, enter the country illegally.

Hennadii Kurtoglu, of no fixed address, was arrested when a yacht ran aground near Orford in Suffolk in April this year.
At Ipswich Crown Court, Kurtoglu pleaded guilty to assisting the unlawful entry into the European Union.
The investigation was undertaken by the UK Border Force and Suffolk Police.


Accusations of unfair play by Australia in their Test defeat by India are "outrageous", says Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland.

Australia skipper Steve Smith was seen looking up to his side's dressing room when pondering whether to ask for a review after he was given out lbw.
India captain Virat Kohli said Smith had "crossed the line".
The International Cricket Council confirmed no action would be taken against either captain.
Sutherland said of Smith: "We have every faith there was no ill-intent in his actions. Steve's an outstanding person."
Smith, 27, admitted his error and described it as "a bit of brain-fade".
The laws of the game forbid players from consulting with anyone off the field about whether to use the Decision Review System (DRS), given that support staff have access to television replays in the dressing room.
Kohli, 28, said it was not an isolated incident and alleges he saw Australian players looking to the dressing room for DRS assistance on two other occasions while he was batting.
"I pointed that out to the umpire as well that I had seen their players looking upstairs for confirmation," Kohli added.
"We observed that, we told the match referee and the umpire that it's been happening for the last three days and it has to stop."
However, Sutherland replied: "I find the allegations questioning the integrity of Steve Smith, the Australian team and the dressing room, outrageous.
"We reject any commentary that suggests our integrity was brought into disrepute or that systemic unfair tactics are used, and stand by Steve and the Australian cricketers who are proudly representing our country."
The Indian cricket authorities responded with a strong rebuttal, insisting they "steadfastly stand" with Kohli and his team.
"Virat Kohli is a mature and seasoned cricketer and his conduct on the field has been exemplary," said the the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
"BCCI has requested the ICC to take cognisance of the fact that Smith admitted to a 'brain fade' at that moment.
BCCI sincerely hopes that the rest of the matches are played in the true spirit of cricket."
India's victory levelled the four-match series at 1-1 and the penultimate Test begins in Ranchi on 16 March.
Meanwhile, all-rounder Mitchell Marsh will return home from the tour of India with a shoulder injury and a replacement is expected to be announced in due course.
A headline in The Sydney Morning Herald read: "Kohli all but accuses Australia of cheating after epic Indian Test win".
And Andrew Wu wrote that the series has become a "no-holds barred, bare-knuckle fight after a spiteful finish to the second Test".
"Relations between the two sides are now at its lowest point since the Monkeygate scandal of 2007-08", he adds, referring  to an incident when India's Harbhajan Singh was accused of a racial slur aimed at Andrew Symonds. He was later exonerated.
Writing in The Age, Greg Baum says the DRS has been a "nightmare" for everyone.
"Now it [DRS] has become Frankenstein, a man-made mechanical monster. If more sensible protocols cannot be developed, it should be scrapped altogether", he says.
A headline in the Herald Sun described the Indian captain as the "cricket's ultimate bully" while The Australian says "Cricket war of words flares again".
The report in The Australian said: "Cricket Australia chief launches an extraordinary attack on Indian skipper Virat Kohli, as strained relations explode again".
BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world.


Meet George - he wants more children like him to get outside and get into gardening.

25 May 2017 Last updated at 07:00 BST
He met Newsround at the world famous Chelsea Flower Show, where top gardeners show off their best designs and compete for awards.
George is an ambassador for the Royal Horticultural Society, which runs the show, and he even has his own blog.
Watch his video to find out what's so great about gardening.


A-level results day has become an event in its own right, with a social media frenzy and its own annual rituals, embedded in the 24-hour news culture.

But it hasn't always been this way.
1. Envelope dropping through a letter box: That's how low-tech exam results used to be. No hugging, leaping, mass hysteria. No selfies, Tweets or Snapchats. People got their results often without going to school. The nearest thing to shared emotion was a few gruff words in the local under-age drinking pub, the Jam playing on a jukebox in the background.
Fast forward to the present and it's a storm of instant statistics, social media sharing and wall-to-wall coverage. There will be the first university admission figures, like the early results from a general election, followed by the ups and downs of this year's grades. As well as going into school to get results, pupils will be finding out their grades in every form of technology imaginable. Almost immediately universities will have their fingers on the send button to chase potential recruits.
2. Everything is public: There is no such thing as private grief in the digital glare of social media. Whether it's sharing results with friends on Instagram or parents emoting out loud on Facebook, the drama is played out in public. Teenagers have been messaging each other, building up the tension. There is no hiding place and it is tough for those with disappointing results. Social media has transformed the day into a shared event.
3. How exams were graded really was different: When Advanced levels were introduced in the early 1950s, there were only two outcomes, pass or fail. These were qualifications for a small top slice of the year group. Grades were introduced in the 1960s, with a fixed quota for each band. So the top 10% achieved an A grade, and then the next 15% a B grade and so on. It meant that even if the entire year group made more progress, the proportion of grades would remain the same. This system stayed in place until the mid-1980s.
4. Read all about it: Or in fact, you probably didn't, because under the previous system the national exam results were always the same. It's not much of a headline: "A-level results identical again."
When national results were no longer fixed quotas, it became more of a story - or more often a stick to beat the education system. Not much improvement was seen as standards stagnating. Too much improvement was labelled as "grade inflation". From one in 10 achieving an A grade in the early 1980s, one in four were getting top grades by the end of the 1990s.
It became a political event too. And when A-levels went wrong there was a price to pay. Grading problems in 2002 saw the exam chief losing his job and ultimately led to the resignation of Education Secretary Estelle Morris.
5. League table pressure: When the parents of today's A-level students were getting their results there were no league tables. Grades were not ammunition in a  battle to perform better than other schools. Part of the ramping up of Results Day is that the stakes are much higher for schools. State and private schools and academy chains need to push up grades and want to publicise their successes, putting good news on to websites and press releases. Results Day has become a public showroom.
6. Advertising blizzard: Students are being targeted in a way that is entirely different from a generation ago. Universities are competing for students and their tuition fees and the weeks around the publication of results have become a marketing battleground. Websites, billboards, backs of buses are now carrying pitches for university courses. Every kind of digital marketing ploy will be aimed at potential recruits.
7. Screen agers: Getting information about universities is now shaped around the needs of the screen-age teenager. It used to be a black-and-white, printed prospectus, where the nearest thing to multimedia was a picture of three spaced-out students in cheesecloth sitting under a tree. But now universities are open in every way, whether it's online chatrooms or, in the case of the University of Greenwich, advice by Skype for students who might be away on holiday.
8. Big numbers: Another huge difference is the increase in numbers of people taking A-levels and waiting to hear about university places. In the early 1980s only about one in 10 students achieved three A-levels. Now it's a much more mainstream event. The expansion in A-levels has gone hand in hand with the expansion in higher education. More students will begin university courses this autumn than were getting five good GCSEs two decades ago.
9. Headline act: A-level results have become a news event, but are rising results good news or bad news? An academic study of media coverage of A-level results included some classic headlines from 2003: "On a joyous day, dissenting note from an ex-examiner: We're all deluding ourselves," said the Daily Mail. "A-levels will be a success when more pupils fail," said the Sunday Times. But the Guardian questioned: "Where is the proof of a fall in standards?"
10. Results day rituals: Exam results day has developed its own mid-summer rituals. The most famous has been the front-page pictures of blonde female students leaping in celebration. It had become such a widely-mocked cliche that last year The Times published its own ironic version on its front cover with four leaping boys showing their midriffs. Expect stories about high-achieving twins, youngsters overcoming adversity and pictures of people shouting into mobile phones.


Gunmen have stormed a village in Nigeria's central Plateau state, leaving some 30 people feared dead, say local people and officials.

Dozens of houses were torched in the attack on Shonong, in the Riyom area.
Cattle were killed or taken away by the perpetrators, suspected to be Hausa-Fulani herdsmen, witnesses told AFP news agency.
Thousands have died in tit-for-tat ethnic violence in Plateau state in recent years.
Much of the violence is blamed on land disputes between semi-nomadic Muslim Fulani herdsmen and mainly Christian Berom farmers in the area, where Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north meets its Christian-majority south.
Local people and officials were quoted as putting the death toll from Monday morning's attack at 30, including many women and children.
The military's Special Task Force charged with maintaining security in the state has said that 16 people were killed.
An MP representing Riyom - some 50km (30 miles) south-west of the state capital Jos - confirmed the attack and said it had also left "many... lying in the hospital".
Daniel Dem questioned why soldiers had not prevented the raid.
Several thousand people have been killed in similar clashes since 2010, but rights groups say the government has done little to stop the violence.


It is a technology so powerful that - on a distant day well into the future - it could mean computers that are able to advise on the best way to treat patients, tackle climate change or feed the poor.

With such potential power, comes huge responsibility.
Demis Hassabis, the head of Google's £400m machine learning business and one of the world's leading authorities on the subject, has now called for a responsible debate about the role of ethics in the development of artificial intelligence.
"I think artificial intelligence is like any powerful new technology," Mr Hassabis, DeepMind's co-founder, told me.
"It has to be used responsibly. If it's used irresponsibly it could do harm.
"I think we have to be aware of that and I think that people developing that - us and other companies and universities - need to realise and take seriously our responsibilities and to have ethical concerns at the top of our minds.
"We engage very actively with [the artificial intelligence] community - at MIT, at Cambridge, at Oxford - so there are a lot of academic institutes thinking about this and we engage with them very actively and openly with our research.
"I think there are valid concerns and they should be discussed and debated now, decades before there's anything that's actually of any potential consequence or power that we need to worry about, so we have the answers in place well ahead of time."
Mr Hassabis was responding to concerns about the development of artificial intelligence raised, among others, by Elon Musk, the technology entrepreneur and a DeepMind investor, and Professor Stephen Hawking.
Prof Hawking told my colleague Rory Cellan-Jones that artificial intelligence could "end mankind".
Mr Hassabis is not at the "robots" end of artificial intelligence.
His work focuses on learning machines which are able to sift huge amounts of data and support human understanding of the exponential rise of digitised information.
"Artificial intelligence is the science of making machines smart," he said.
"If we're able to imbue machines with intelligence then they might be able to help us as a society to solve all kinds of big problems that we would like to have a better mastery of - all the way from things like disease and healthcare, to big questions we have in science like climate change and physics, where having the ability for machines to understand and find insights in large amounts of data could be very helpful to the human scientists and doctors."
Intelligent Machines - a BBC News series looking at AI and robotics
His world is a long way from Hollywood's take on artificial intelligence. Terminator or the beguiling Ava in Ex Machina might make for "good entertainment" but the world is fanciful.
Computers, Mr Hassabis says, are nowhere near being able to ape human behaviour or over take human thinking.
"Terminator is one of those examples that is very iconic, but extremely unrealistic in a number of ways.
"Certainly that's not what I worry about," Mr Hassabis said.
"It's more where there are unintended things - something you might have missed, rather than people intentionally building systems to control weapons and other things."
And this touches on the knotty subject of regulation.
Who is overseeing the development of artificial intelligence which, whatever its present limitations, does have the potential to fundamentally change the way we live?
Some have described its development as being as significant as embryology research and the ability to manipulate DNA.
Mr Hassabis said that Google is setting up an ethics committee to look at the work his company is doing.
"General AI is still in its infancy," he said.
"So I think for a very long time it will be a complementary tool that human scientists and human experts can use to help them with the things that humans are not naturally good at, freeing up the human mind to make the leaps in imagination that I think humans are particularly well suited to."
He reveals that there is already a lot of "dialogue" with official bodies, including the UK government.
"I think it's much too early to think about regulation," Mr Hassabis said.
"We're very early in this technology phase, so we don't really know yet what the right things would be to regulate.
"It's not as simple as something like embryology where there's physical stuff where you say: 'Do we want this?'.
"It's much more difficult to define, and actually I think we need to have a lot more empirical work to get a better understanding of how these goal systems should be built, what values should the machines have, which I think will come over the next decade.
"And then that will give us an idea of what sort of things we could put in a regulatory framework."
London is doing rather well in artificial intelligence. DeepMind is based in King's Cross and has grown to a 150-strong company of mathematicians and computer scientists.
Mr Hassabis urged the UK not to squander its leading position in the developing sector.
"We're proud to be a UK company," he said.
"And although we're owned by Google, our whole operation is here.
"And actually it goes well beyond DeepMind into all our universities.
"Cambridge, Oxford, University College London, Imperial have very strong machine learning departments.
"It's something the UK is extremely strong in and I think it's a great UK success story.
"But unlike in the past - where we were also there at the dawn of the computer age and yet Silicon Valley ended up doing all the innovation and reaping most of the commercial benefits - we should make sure that we stay at the forefront of what will be an incredibly important technology in the next 10 or 20 years."
By then, society may well need answers to the question - who controls the machines.


Pakistan may have allowed the Chinese military to examine the US stealth helicopter downed in the operation to kill Osama Bin Laden, reports say.

US officials are quoted as saying there is evidence Pakistan invited Chinese military engineers to the site in Abbottabad in the days after the raid.
The Black Hawk helicopter was blown up by US Navy Seals after it crashed, but the tail remained largely intact.
The covert 2 May raid has strained relations between the US and Pakistan.
The two countries - allies in the fight against the Taliban and al-Qaeda in the region - have been involved in a tit-for-tat row for the last few months, although they have tried to prevent a breakdown of relations.
Pakistan enjoys a close relationship with China, which is a major investor in telecommunications, ports and infrastructure in the country.
"The US now has information that Pakistan, particularly the ISI [Pakistan's intelligence service], gave access to the Chinese military to the downed helicopter in Abbottabad," the Financial Times quoted a source in US intelligence circles as saying.
He said Chinese engineers were allowed to survey the wreckage and take samples of the "stealth" skin that allowed the Seals to enter Pakistan undetected by radar, according to the paper.
Both the FT and the New York Times quote intelligence officials as saying they are "certain" the visit took place, although the NYT said officials cautioned that they did not have definitive proof of it happening.
One source said the US case came mostly from intercepted conversations in which Pakistan officials discussed inviting the Chinese to visit the crash site.
In the immediate aftermath of the raid on the compound in Abbottabad housing Osama Bin Laden, US officials had asked Pakistan not to let anyone view the remains of the helicopter.
It was brought back to the US two weeks later following a trip by US Senator John Kerry.
Both Pakistan and Chinese officials have denied the latest reports.
"It's just speculation. It's all false. The wreckage was handed back. There is no helicopter left [in Pakistan]," one senior Pakistani security official told the AFP news agency.


Burton Albion are set to re-sign teenage midfielder Hamza Choudhury on a season-long loan from Premier League champions Leicester City.

The 18-year-old helped the Brewers win automatic promotion from League One last season during a three-month loan.
"We've agreed a deal in principal but it's not signed. The bones are there. We hope it will be done by Saturday," boss Nigel Clough told BBC Radio Derby.
"He is still only 18 years old so he'll have the advantage of enthusiasm."
Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.


An American runner has been praised as a true Olympian after stopping mid-race to help a fallen rival on to her feet.

Abbey D'Agostino helped New Zealand's Nikki Hamblin who was lying dazed on the track after the two entangled and fell in the 5,000m heats in Rio.
"Get up. We have to finish this," D'Agostino told her.
It was then Hamblin's turn to help D'Agostino, hanging back to encourage the injured American, who hobbled over the line in last place.
They embraced before D'Agostino left in a wheelchair with a hurt ankle.
Neither initially qualified for the final but they earned much praise for their spirit.
The incident began about 3km (1.9 miles) into the 5km race, when D'Agostino and Hamblin collided and they both went down.
Hamblin fell heavily and D'Agostino was first to get to her feet, but Hamblin was just lying there, appearing to be in tears.
Instead of continuing the race in an attempt to catch up, the American put her hands under the New Zealander's shoulders to help her up, telling her not to give up.
As they continued the race, it became clear that D'Agostino's injury was the more serious and her ankle had been badly hurt.
So it was Hamblin's turn to be the helper, hanging back to encourage her rival.
"She helped me first. I tried to help her. She was pretty bad," said Hamblin after the race. She eventually had to leave D'Agostino behind and thought the American would have to give up.
She waited at the finish line where they shared a hug. This time, it was D'Agostino who was in tears and she was taken out of the stadium in a wheelchair.
"That girl is the Olympic spirit right there," said Hamblin.
The two runners were reinstated as finalists by the organisers, if they are fit enough to race in Friday night's final.


Royal Troon should not be hosting The Open golf championship while still not accepting women as members, according to the founder of a body aimed at promoting equality in sport.

The Ayrshire club is staging the 145th Open this July.
It announced last year that it was carrying out a review into its all-male membership policy.
Maureen McGonigle of the Scottish Women in Sport Foundation said the club had to "come into the 21st Century".
Governing body, the Royal and Ancient (R&A), said the issue was "a matter for the club" to decide on.
Royal Troon is one of two golf clubs on the rota to host the Open Championship which do not accept female members.
The other is Muirfield in East Lothian, where the event was held in 2013.
Ms McGonigle told BBC Radio Scotland's John Beattie: "To have that kind of attitude and be hosting one of the top events in Scotland - I do find that quite surprising and I don't think it is something that should happen.
"I think discrimination in any form, in this day and age, should not be allowed. There has got to be equality throughout.
"They (Royal Troon) have to come into the 21st Century and look at the benefits that women bring to a club."
Troon has previously considered itself as a special case in respect of its male-only membership policy as it shares facilities with the Ladies Golf Club, Troon.
Both clubs are sharing the responsibility of hosting the Open via a joint championship committee.
However, last year it said it would "undertake a comprehensive review to consider the most appropriate membership policy for the future".
The timetable for the review is yet be announced.
Ms McGonigle added: "There's no need for research. There's plenty of evidence out there that clearly tells you the benefits of including a diverse population within your organisation .
"I think they have to look at the commercial side. Numbers are falling dramatically in golf clubs, women are not becoming members anymore and I think that is because the environment portrayed is not conducive.
"Women are not going to waste their time trying to get into a club that clearly doesn't want them to be there. They'll take their money elsewhere."
Speaking on Radio Scotland about preparations ahead of The Open at Troon this summer, the R&A's executive director of championships, Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, said: "I think it has been well documented that Royal Troon is reviewing its membership."
"The R&A looks forward to its outcome.
"It is really a matter for the club to carry out that review and we can only wait for the outcome and handle it when that review comes out."


Brentford midfielder Alan Judge has signed a new contract to stay with the Championship club until the end of the 2018-19 season.

The Republic of Ireland international has made 102 appearances for the Bees since joining on an initial loan deal from Blackburn in January 2014.
However, the 28-year-old has not featured since April 2016 when he suffered a double fracture of his leg.
His previous deal was set to expire at the end of the current season.
"He is close to a full recovery from the terrible injury he suffered and we will certainly reap the benefits when he returns to the standards he was setting," manager Dean Smith told the club website.
"It is a great boost to the staff, the squad and supporters that his future remains at Brentford."


Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth has said he may take a look at some Stourbridge players after their FA Cup tie.

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Seventh-tier Stourbridge lost 2-1 to the League Two side on Saturday.
"It was a full-blooded cup tie. There's a couple of Stourbridge players that opened my eyes a little," Ainsworth told BBC Three Counties Radio.
"I might be taking a trip to have a look because they did fantastically well and I really believe they'll do well in the league."
Stourbridge were the lowest-ranked team left in the competition and drew level at 1-1 when Dan Scarr turned home a second-half free-kick and looked on their way to a replay.
Their manager, Gary Hackett, has been in charge since 2005 and it was only a late Adebayo Akinfenwa header that denied his side a replay and another chance to make the fourth round.
"You can see why Gary has been in charge for so long," continued Ainsworth. "He's got his team organised, they work their socks off for him and the fans were awesome.
"Thank you to all the Stourbridge fans that came and made it a great cup tie, they probably won't like me at the minute.
"But what a result for us, when that ball hit the back of the net I was a relieved man.
Ainsworth, in charge since September 2012, is now the fourth longest-serving manager in the top four divisions of English football following the sacking of Steve Davis by Crewe on Sunday.


Maria Strydom set out for Everest with a mission.

The 34-year-old, a South Africa-born lecturer at a business school in Melbourne, was determined to climb the world's highest mountain with her husband - and to set an example.
In an interview published on her university's website in March, Ms Strydom said she and her husband Robert, both vegans, hoped to show the way by ascending Everest and the highest mountains on other continents.
"It seems that people have this warped idea of vegans being malnourished and weak," she said. "By climbing the seven summits we want to prove that vegans can do anything and more."
Sadly, Maria did not make it to the summit. She was one of three people to die on Everest over the past three days.
All the signs are that she died from the effects of altitude sickness before she was able to reach the summit on Saturday. Robert reportedly also fell ill, but survived.
Many of the headlines since then have inevitably focused on the couple's lifestyle, However, there is no suggestion it played a part in what happened on Everest.
But were Maria's concerns over people's perceptions of vegans fair? And what challenges do vegan adventurers in particular face?
By committing to a diet that omits meat, fish and dairy, vegans risk missing out on certain nutrients that are crucial to building strength. Seeking alternative sources for those nutrients is the hard work.
"You can do it and you can be a serious elite athlete," Dr Frankie Phillips, a registered dietician with the British Dietetic Association, told the BBC. "You can do it, but it's more difficult."
Among the possible consequences of a poor vegan diet, she said, would be increased fatigue due to lower iron levels; weaker muscles because of a lower intake of amino acids that generate muscle mass; and the risk of bones fracturing because of less calcium in the diet.
All the required elements can be obtained from sources that fit a vegan diet or from supplements, Dr Phillips said. For example, two good vegan-friendly sources of amino acids can be combined to be more effective - a peanut butter sandwich does this job particularly well.
But, Dr Phillips said, it was crucial to seek a dietician's advice if you were a vegan looking to take part in sports that involve extreme physical endurance.
"Another issue is the sheer quantity you would need to eat," she added, an issue especially pertinent on Everest, where every kilogram counts as kits are carried up the side of a mountain. "Lots of animal-based foods are more densely-packed with energy, protein, vitamins and minerals.
"Because there's so much fibre in a vegan diet, you could be spending much more time eating. Look at the Tour de France - the time cyclists have to take in enough nutrition is minimal."
There is one big advantage vegans have over their meat-eating counterparts, though - and that is their lack of bulk. "Vegans tend to be a lot leaner," Dr Phillips said. "They carry much less body fat."
Two days before Maria Strydom and her husband attempted their ascent of Everest, another vegan climber made it.
Kuntal Joisher, a Mumbai-born computer programmer, climber and adventure photographer now living in Los Angeles, wrote on his Instagram account that he had reached the summit.
It was not his first attempt to reach the top of the world. In 2014, a large avalanche killed 16 sherpas near Base Camp in what was then the largest accident on Everest. The climbing season was cancelled and Mr Joisher's attempt that year ended.
Then, in April last year, a large earthquake struck Nepal and swept away much of Everest's base camp while Mr Joisher was there.
In 2014, after climbing Mount Elbrus in Russia in strong winds and whiteout conditions, Mr Joisher wrote an article for the Huffington Post website describing how he adapted to the challenge as a vegan.
"I was able to adjust to all of these severe conditions while eating healthy vegan food such as raw vegetables and fruits, buckwheat, rice porridges, wheat breads, and dried fruits and nuts," he wrote.
"There are plenty of vegetarian foods that are part of a core diet during high-altitude climbing expeditions. As such, veganising the menu isn't that difficult."
The main issue, he said, was finding clothing and equipment that was suitable for vegans - he said he was unable to find an alternative to the down jacket needed at the highest altitudes.
Venus and Serena Williams
The tennis-playing sisters admit to sticking to a "Cheagan" diet - one that is almost all vegan, but with the occasional 'cheat' ingredient.
Venus Williams suffers from Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease, and has to be careful about all she eats. She settled on a vegan diet as the best way to do so.
"You also have to look at everything else in your regimen, what you're putting into your body, like supplements," she told Shape magazine. "I'm always learning and I'm hoping to perfect my system."
David Haye
The British former heavyweight boxing champion became vegan two years ago for ethical reasons but has credited the change with an improvement in his health, and in helping him lose body fat.
"A lot of the meat that people eat has been genetically modified, or if it hasn't then the food the animal's been fed has been," he said in an interview with the Telegraph this month. "That's tough for a human being to process, so cutting it out made me feel immediately better and stronger than ever."
He also said his eczema and dandruff problems had stopped as soon as he changed his diet.
Meagan Duhamel
The Canadian figure skating world champion became vegan in 2008 after picking up a book on the subject at an airport.
"When I'm making my breakfast, I'm thinking, 'What am I going to eat that's going to fuel me to train better, focus for a longer period of time?'," she told CBC Sports. "And at night it's more about, 'What can I eat that's going to help me recover faster before I go back to training tomorrow?'"


For the past six months a multi-million pound US TV series has been filming in Scotland, but there is still no word on when it will be shown in the UK.

Outlander has been filming across various locations, including a one-month stint at Doune Castle.
The drama's production is expected to last 38 weeks at a cost of more than Â£50m.
It has been described as Scotland's answer to Game of Thrones, the hit series from the US HBO network that has boosted the industry in Northern Ireland where it is mainly filmed.
Based on a series of novels from American author Diana Gabaldon, Outlander follows the story of Claire Randell, a nurse from 1946 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened.
The series' producers are hoping to capitalise on the book's enormous success in the US where the seven-book series has sold more than 20 million copies.
The eighth instalment of the series is scheduled to be released in autumn this year.
With scripts written by Ronald D Moore, famous for his work on Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek Next Generation, the show's producers feel that they have all the makings of a worldwide hit on their hands.
Chris Albrecht, chief executive officer of US production company Starz, said: "We were drawn to 'Outlander' because it centres on a complex heroine who becomes immersed in an epic time-travelling tale."
Award-winning scriptwriter Moore said the books created a rich and textured world, filled with intriguing characters.
He said: "I think we'll make something that the millions of fans of these books will enjoy and recognise as 'Outlander'."
Scottish actor Sam Heughan plays one of the lead characters, Jamie Fraser, a highlander who meets and falls in love with Claire Randall on her journey in the 18th Century.
The 32-year-old praised the scale of the ambitious production's story-arc, saying: "There's just so much in there, adventure, romance as well as the historical side, with the build-up to Culloden.
"We have great facilities here, I think they made something like 280 to 300 costumes in the first six weeks."
Filming up until now has taken place in an adapted sound stage in Cumbernauld and various other locations throughout Scotland.
Creative Scotland have made a contribution of Â£170,000 towards shooting on locations in Scotland.
Attention to detail has been paramount for the lavish adaptation. The production employs a crew of about 200 spread across props, filming and set-building, along with a cast of more than 2.000 supporting actors.
With Gaelic being the language of the highlander in 1743, it was of vital importance that members of the cast learned their Gaelic lines correctly.
The vast majority of dialogue is in English but for the small segments of Gaelic that feature in Outlander, a Gaelic coach was employed.
Adhamh Obroinn was permanent presence on set to help the cast with pronunciation and delivery.
He said helping the cast learn the subtleties of Gaelic was something he relished over the course of the production and he hoped the high-profile series would promote the language across the world, particularly in Scotland.
Mr Obroinn said: I'm hoping that the exposure of Gaelic will hit home to people in Scotland that we have something absolutely priceless here.
"We will see what happens but it's all very positive so far."
The series will show in America later in the year, with Australian and Canadian networks already having purchased syndication rights.
UK fans of the books may have to wait a while yet as there is no confirmation about when the series will be shown in the UK.