KEEN Climber Neville Price will always remember his 45th birthday as one of the high points of his life.

Mr Price, a detective constable based at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, achieved his ambition of reaching the summit of Britain's highest peak, Ben Nevis.

As a bonus, he was accompanied by the country's leading high altitude mountaineer, Alan Hinkes, who hails from the region.

Mr Price's wife, Liz, had secretely arranged for the famous climber, who has conquered 11 of the world's 14 highest peaks, to accompany her husband up the mountain.

Mr Price said: "Liz and I had both met Alan before as he sometimes trains at the rock wall in Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre, where I go to practice. But it was a complete surprise the night before the climb when we were staying in Fort William to be told by Liz that he would be joining my mate, Pete Bell, and myself on Ben Nevis. It was a tremendous day and a wonderful experience for me."

It took the trio about 11 hours to complete the climb, during which they encountered 5ft snow drifts.

Mr Price, who has set up a walking club in the Sedgefield police division, can already count Cumbrian peaks Helvellyn, Skiddaw, Scafell Pike, Blencathra, Langdale Pike, High Street and Fairfield among the mountains he has conquered.