MOUNTAINEER Alan Hinkes has made the decision to return home after contracting a serious bronchial infection while trekking through the Himalayas.

The climber, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, had to be flown from his base camp to the capital of Nepal, Khatmandu, two weeks ago after suffering breathing difficulties while trying to climb Kanchenjunga.

He has since been on a course of antibiotics, but decided to give up on the attempt when his condition did not improve.

It is the second time he has had to give up on the mountain. In May 2000, his attempt was thwarted by bad weather.

Mr Hinkes said: "I do not really want to have to turn my back on Kanchenjunga again, but with the season coming to an end, time is against me and I would still need to trek back into base camp, which takes two weeks, and begin the acclimatisation process, which will be harder with me not being 100 per cent fit.

"If there is a silver lining, it is that conditions at base camp are atrocious.

"Everyone is pinned down by high winds and heavy snow and Norbet Joos, a Swiss climber I began my trek in with, has just had to be airlifted out with a respiratory infection too."

Mr Hinkes is planning to fly home next week and is going to enjoy the British hills and go trekking in the Lake District before heading back to Nepal at the end of the month for celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary and sherpa Tenzing Norgay's ascent of Everest.

He said: "I have been invited back out to join the Nepalese Mountaineering Association with their celebrations, which will be an amazing experience.

"Sir Edmund Hillary's going to be there, and let's face it, if I wait for the 100th anniversary, neither of us is going to be around."