MOUNTAINEER Alan Hinkes has had to abandon his trek through the Himalayas because of ill heath.

The high-altitude climber, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, had to be flown to the capital of Nepal, Khatmandu, after contracting a serious bronchial infection.

Mr Hinkes had been halfway through his trek into base camp at Kanchenjunga when he started feeling unwell.

He said: "I was very short of breath and lacked energy and appetite.

"At 40,000 metres I decided to stop and rest, but after three days with little appetite and feeling worse, I realised I had to get to safety as the types of symptoms I had at such a high altitude can develop into life-threatening high altitude pulmonary adena.

"I am feeling a little better. I am hoping to still make an attempt on Kanchenjunga, but I now have to take each day at a time and my health obviously comes first and will determine whether I am fit enough."

Mr Hinkes' journey to the Himalayas is part of an epic attempt to conquer the world's 14 highest peaks.

He has already climbed Everest and K2, and Kanchenjunga and Dhaulagiri are the only to peaks he has left to climb.

In May 2000, he had to abandon an attempt on Kanchenjunga because of bad weather.