Mountaineer Alan Hinkes was on top of the world last night after being awarded an OBE.

Mr Hinkes, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, receives the award for services to sport.

Last spring, he became the first Briton, and only the 13th person ever, to climb the world's 14 highest peaks.

The 51-year-old father and grandfather began his 18-year quest to climb all the world's mountains over 8,000 metres, with an ascent of Shishma Pangma.

He completed his quest on May 30 with his third attempt of the world's third highest mountain, Kangchenjunga.

He paused briefly at the summit to take a photograph and took out pictures of his daughter, Fiona Kitchman, 21, and baby grandson, Jay.

After completing the feat, Mr Hinkes said: "The final summit push was, without a doubt, the hardest climb of my life.

"Every step of the way was a matter of physical and mental endurance.

"Getting back to base camp was one of the best feelings of my life. I sat down in my tent and thought, 'I've finally done it'."

The achievement was described by Sir Chris Bonnington, one of the most successful mountain expedition leaders as "a colossal kind of mountaineering marathon".

On returning to England in June, Mr Hinkes said he would not feel truly safe until he had eaten fish and chips from his favourite shop, Turnbull's, in Northallerton.

The OBE is the latest in a series of honours Mr Hinkes has had bestowed on him since he completed his feat.

A reception was held in his honour by the British Ambassador of Nepal.

And Mr Hinkes, who learned to climb on the North York Moors, said he was "gobsmacked" when he was made an honorary citizen of Northallerton in August.

In November, he was presented with a certificate of achievement by the Royal Institute of Navigation by the Duke of Edinburgh.

Such certificates are only presented only to those who have realised an outstanding achievement in navigation.