Dean Leyland, 19, from Kittiwake Road, Heapey, took part in the trek up Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for Barnardo's Children's Charity.

The student, who started a degree course at Liverpool University this week, made the 19,000 ft ascent up the world-famous mountain in Tanzania after spending a month volunteering at a primary school for deprived youngsters in Kenya during an eventful gap year.

He said: "The whole experience has been superb. It's difficult to put in to words but it was fantastic.

"It was pretty tough at times but well worth it in the end. The feeling when you reach the summit is incredible."

Every year, numerous mountaineers are killed on the mountain's treacherous slopes and hundreds are forced to turn back after suffering from Acute Mountain Sickness, which can sometimes prove fatal.

Even Dean's own climbing partner, whom he met while volunteering in Kenya, had to turn back half way up the mountain after suffering a hip injury.

Luckily, Dean's gruelling five-day ascent went ahead without any major problems.

"On the final day we had to trek from midnight until dawn to make it to the summit in time to see the sun rise," he said. "It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen.

"It was such a great feeling - you get a real sense of achievement from it all."

The teenager, who has volunteered for Barnardo's for the past four years, funded the £2,500 trip himself by working a number of part-time jobs in the months leading up to his adventure.

Dean, who hopes to become a paediatrician after finishing his degree, said: "The whole experience, from helping to build an extension at the school in Kenya to climbing Kilimanjaro, has been great.

"By going there you realise just how much we have and what it is like for people in other parts of the world.

"It's been a great experience for me but also, I hope it has helped in some way."

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/deanleyland.