As they inched their way up Africa's highest peak, her fingers had become increasingly swollen and her head throbbed with pain.

On the fifth day and within hours of reaching the snow-capped peak, Jane Knight had to turn back.

In a tearful farewell she parted with her husband Simon as he hiked to the summit of Kilimanjaro to watch the sunrise.

"I was sick because the altitude was too great to acclimatise to - I was exhausted," said Jane, of Chelford Road.

Only two weeks earlier, 37-year-old Jane had been looking after her children at home while her husband visited Tanzania on a business trip.

Simon, 40, was representing North West Water to see a charitable project in action.

Water Aid provides clean water in wells for villages in developing countries.

Simon had decided to raise funds by climbing Tanzania's majestic 19,340ft peak.

But when he couldn't link up with another group, he rang his wife.

"I'm reasonably fit but had a fortnight to have a mad cramming session in the gym," said Jane.

The couple set off with a guide, a cook and five porters in tropical weather.

But when Simon set foot on the summit, he stayed just long enough to photograph the sunrise before descending to escape the cold.

At first the couple pledged they would never tackle the mountain again.

But now Jane admits she's tempted.

"The sole purpose of my trip was to climb Kilimanjaro and I haven't done that yet," she said.

Jane and Simon raised £7,450 for Water Aid - and £450 for their children's school Bexton Primary.

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