MOUNTAINEER Alan Hinkes was celebrating last night after becoming the first Briton for 32 years to conquer Annapurna.

His success in reaching the summit of the Himalayan mountain has brought him a step closer to his goal of climbing all 14 of the world's 8,000-plus metre peaks.

Mr Hinkes, of Northallerton, North Yorkshire, is the country's most successful extreme altitude mountaineer and has already reached the top of 12 of the world's most dangerous mountains, including Everest and K2.

He reached Annapurna base camp in the last week of April, and spent several days getting used to the climate and planning his assault on the summit.

Although the camp was hit by storms that blew away his mess tent last week, Mr Hinkes said weather conditions had been good enough to allow an attempt to be made.

He reached the top in about 11 hours.

Speaking via satellite phone from base camp, Mr Hinkes said: "It's one of the most amazing mountains I have climbed - the scenery is awesome.

"I'm exhausted and overwhelmed to have achieved all this so quickly and am looking forward to returning home to rest and especially to see my daughter, Fiona."

Mr Hinkes made national headlines in 1997 when he sneezed on flour from a chapatti while on Nanga Parbat and prolapsed a disc in his back. He was trapped on the mountain for ten days before struggling down to be rescued.