MOUNTAINEER Alan Hinkes is to be made an honorary citizen of his home town.

In May, Hinkes, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, became the first Briton to climb the world's 14 highest peaks when he conquered Kangchenjunga, in Nepal.

On Monday night, Northallerton Town Council voted to make him an honorary citizen after he was nominated by residents.

The council gives the honour to people who have made an outstanding contribution to the town.

Yesterday, Mr Hinkes said: "It is a fantastic honour and I am a little gobsmacked by it to be honest.

"I have always been proud to be from Northallerton. I am very lucky to be from North Yorkshire in general.

"I have seen some of the nicest places in the world, but I have never wanted to live anywhere else."

Hinkes, 51, was born in his grandmother's house in Romanby, near Northallerton, and attended the town's grammar school.

He has spent the past 18 years trying to conquer the world's 8,000-metre-plus mountains.

In May, he reached the summit of his last remaining peak, Kangchenjunga, and became only the 13th person in the world to have climbed all 14.

He will be made an honorary citizen on August 19 at a ceremony in Northallerton Town Hall.

Mayor David Blades said: "I am looking forward to bestowing the honour on Alan in recognition of his amazing achievements.

"He has always done a lot to promote the town and as soon as he climbed that mountain, I had people ringing me and sending letters saying he should be honoured in this way."