Mountaineer Alan Hinkes returned to the UK yesterday after securing his place in the record books.

The former schoolteacher has spent the past 18 years on a personal quest to conquer all 14 of the world's 8,000m-plus peaks - a challenge he finally completed last month.

Hinkes, 51, of Northallerton, is one of only 13 people in the world to have achieved the feat, conquering the peaks in the so-called 'death zone' on which humans can only live for a few days because of low oxygen levels.

On May 30 he completed his Challenge 8,000 quest by conquering Kangchenjunga in Nepal after surviving what he described as the worst Himalayan weather conditions in living memory.

The 8,587m (28,172ft) summit had twice eluded him. Once in 2000 when he was forced to turn back because of deep snow only to suffer a broken arm when a snow bridge collapsed on his descent, and again in 2003 when he retired feeling unwell.

After landing at Heathrow airport, Mr Hinkes spoke of his relief at finally completing his quest, something he said meant he would not have to face any more near-death experiences.

He said: ''If you cut me in half it says mountain climbing, I'm like a stick of rock. I will always be in mountains all my life, I don't have a death wish and I have had a few near-death experiences, particularly on Kangch. I will be happy just 'bimbling' around the Lake District."

For Kangchenjunga, Mr Hinkes was accompanied by his Nepalese friend Pasang Gelu who turned back just short of the peak.

Mr Hinkes said: "Perhaps he has a bit more sense than me."

But after climbing to the top just before dark he was faced with making his descent in a heavy blizzard with avalanches all around him and pitch black conditions.

But before that Mr Hinkes observed his personal ritual of posing for a picture, which he took by holding a camera at arms length, holding a snapshot of his daughter Fiona, 21, and grandson Jay, two. They were with him yesterday

Mr Hinkes' personal quest has spanned most of Fiona's life and, on one occasion, he even named a previously unnamed mountain in Kyrgyzstan after Fiona.