A NORTH-EAST pensioner has finally conquered the notorious mountain peak whose summit she narrowly missed late last year - and all despite a fear of heights.

Elizabeth Mann, 69, of Milbank Court, Darlington, first visited Kinabalu, in Borneo, with fellow fundraisers from the British Heart Foundation (BHF) World Challenge.

Mrs Mann made the trip in memory of her husband, Stanley, who had died a few months earlier and shared her love of the outdoors.

On that occasion she stopped just short of the summit of the mountain, which achieved notoriety when missing British soldiers were rescued from its deep ravines and impenetrable jungles in 1994.

Mrs Mann was so inspired that she returned to try again to conquer the 4,095m peak.

She said: "The mountain means many things to many people.

"To the local tribes it is a sacred resting place for spirits of the dead. To me it held a challenge - to conquer not only the mountain but my fear of heights.

"It would also be a tribute to my husband who loved mountains and with whom I had climbed and walked in mountain ranges in several countries.

"The peak is often covered in mist and cloud, and rain can turn the steep path into a virtual waterfall, when the climb would have to be abandoned. Due to the height, altitude sickness presents a further hazard, for which the only cure is to descend."

Mrs Mann and a local guide, Malik Miki from the Dusun tribe, which abandoned headhunting in the 1920s, used fixed ropes to haul themselves up the steepest sections of smooth granite, some of the climb carried out in darkness.

Mrs Mann said: "Finally, after about three and a half hours, Low's Peak, the summit of Kinabalu became visible. I knew then I could get to the summit, so conquering the mountain and my fears. Getting to the summit was a feeling of absolute elation.