Tears as adventurer is home

Tears were shed as outback adventurer Anna Hingley returned home to the Midlands for the first time since completing her epic horseback journey across Australia.

Anna, who has just turned 25, became the first woman to cross Australia on horseback in August last year along with boyfriend, "Croc" John Ostwald.

Most of her family were at the finishing line to greet her after the five-month trip. But twin sister Abbie, who has cerebal palsy, had to stay at home in Stourbridge.

Yesterday after a year away, Anna arrived back at her family's home in Racecourse Lane, Norton. She was greeted by banners and balloons and tearfully reunited with her twin sister, who she had earlier dedicated her trip to.

Anna said: "It is very emotional to be back and there were some tears shed, especially when I saw Abbie. We have spoken on the phone but I haven't actually seen her in a year."

Abbie said: "I was so excited I couldn't sleep the night before Anna came home and I did cry when I saw her. I am so proud of what she and John have done."

The former Greenfield and Redhill School pupil is now back in Stourbridge until the end of March when she will return to Australia where she now lives and works at a tourism park in the outback close to Darwin along with John, aged 28.

Anna, a former vet at Clent, said she was aiming to catch up with friends family and her beloved horse Velvet, who has been kept in stables in Belbroughton during her trip.

She said: "I have just got back from a place where it is scorching hot so it's going to take some getting use to the weather again. I think I am just existing on the adrenaline and excitment of being back home at the moment."

While riding through the treacherous outback Anna said she was oblivious to the media buzz her story was creating back in Britain where she has been featured in a string of national newspapers and on TV.

Her family have adorned their Norton home with the cuttings and pictures they have kept.

"I just couldn't believe it. When you are out there in the middle of nowhere you just don't think about it. Some parts of the outback are just like a different world."

The couple completed a 2,000-mile route from the Western coast to Queensland with six wild horses they had tamed themselves.

Both Anna and John will be talking about their experiences at Stourbridge Town Hall on Thursday January 8 as part of the venue's Celebrity Lectures programme.

By Ben Lammas