Vicky Jack has scaled the seven summits

Vicky Jack, from Perthshire, reached the summit on her second attempt to scale the Nepal mountain.

Last year bad weather halted her bid just 300ft from the summit.

She is thought to be the first Scottish woman to scale the tallest peaks on the world's seven continents, joining a group of fewer than 100 mountaineers.

She was accompanied on her climb by expedition leader Henry Todd and his wife Sue, from Kingussie, Inverness-shire.

They were among 30 climbers and 29 sherpas who took advantage of a break in the weather to tackle the 29,035ft summit on Monday.

Ms Jack, from Balquhidder, runs her own consultancy firm.

THE SEVEN SUMMITS June 1997 - Elbrus, Europe September 1997 - Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa December 1998 - Mt Aconcagua, South America December 1999 - Vinson Massif, Antarctica May 2000 - Mt McKinley, North America August 2001 - Carstenz Pyramid, Australasia May 2004 - Mt Everest, Asia

She quit her job as head of personnel with North of Scotland Water in 1997 to take on the seven peaks challenge.

Ms Jack, who trained by walking Munros carrying telephone directories in a rucksack, started by climbing two peaks that year.

During her attempt on Everest she has been staying in touch by telephone and email, and has been posting updates on her website.

Friend Jean Anne Mitchell said: "It's an amazing achievement and a tremendous effort. I'm absolutely delighted for her.

"Vicky is one of those people who has a superb drive and personality. She always wanted to be on top of the world and now she really is.

"She's only a slight slim wee thing - you'd never believe her capable of such stamina - but her determination, as always, has been second to none."