John Houghton, owner of the Grange Garden Centre and Alpine Restaurant, Asfordby Hill, and farmer Roger Hobill reached the 4,810m (15,873ft) peak on Saturday, August 2 at 7.45am.

Not content with conquering Europe's highest peak, the pair then tackled the even tougher climb of the Matterhorn, which claims several lives every year.

But just 487 metres from the top they had to turn back because of the weather.

John said: "We've tried skiing up Mont Blanc twice before but we've had to turn back, always because of the weather. The second time we got very close to the summit.

"This time we decided to climb. Reaching the top makes all the difference. Apart from feeling sheer exhaustion, we just felt on top of the world.

"The Alps is a fantastic place, it's really got a hold over me. It was the hardest thing I've ever done, but I want to do it again."

The adventurous pair had previously tried skiing up, a leg-bustingly difficult way of getting up mountains, but one which allows climbers to reach even more inaccessible parts of the Alps.

This year, they climbed instead, but decided it was too easy so conquered another peak and then attempted the Matterhorn.

John said: "We included the Matterhorn to add a bit of extra spice to make up for not skiing.

"But when snow began to fall and the cloud base crept down the mountain, the decision was made to abandon the attempt with just another two hours climb from the summit. But it was a sensible decision when you consider the Matterhorn has claimed at least 500 lives!"

To reach the peak, the team, including Italian guides, crossed ice crevasses hundreds of feet deep and fought off altitude sickness and extreme exhaustion.

John said: "I was feeling very sick at one point and reeling around like a drunken person, I was in zombie mode, every step was a battle."

Both climbers footed the bill themselves to help raise money for Disability Snowsport UK, a charity which helps disabled people ski and put three people in the Paralympics in Turin.

John and Roger are hoping to raise several thousand pounds for the group and to sponsor the pair, contact (01664) 812012 or visit the Grange Garden Centre and Alpine Restaurant, Asfordby Hill.