RECORD-BREAKING young mountaineer Rhys Jones has returned to his Bartley home after his triumphant ascent of Everest.

That conquest, which was completed on his 20th birthday on Saturday, May 13, made him the youngest climber ever to scale the highest mountain in each of the world's seven continents.

He had previously conquered Mount McKinley (20,320 feet, North America, June 2003), Mount Kilimanjaro (19,340 feet, Africa, January 2004), Mount Kosciuszko (7,310 feet, Australia, November 2004), Mount Aconcagua (22,841 feet, South America, January 2005) and Mount Elbrus (18,506 feet, Europe, July 2005), and Mount Vinson (16,050 feet, Antarctica, December 2005).

His achievements sparked a series of celebrations in his home village of Bartley, where he is respected not only as an incredible young mountaineer, but also as a popular leader in the Scout movement.

And those celebrations continued right up until he arrived back at Bartley after being met by his mum, Ellen, at Heathrow Airport, with a group of family and friends hoisted a 'Welcome Home' banner.

Looking back on the 54 days it took to get to the mountain and climb it -getting back down and flying home took a week - he said: "It was by far the hardest thing I've ever done, but it was my birthday and I was glad to get back down with no frostbite. I never thought I would climb all seven within three years."

Rhys also paid an early visit to his father, Alan, who is recovering from an operation on a slipped disc at a Chandler's Ford hospital.

He is now pondering his next challenge and he hasn't ruled out more climbing, although sailing is also a possibility.