Their adventure in the Andes raised thousands pounds for charity but from now on even a personal invitation from Elvis to meet him and Shergar upstairs in Smails wouldn't get them climbing past the ground floor.

They have had it with heights after their experience at 13,700 ft above sea level on the notorious Dead Woman's Pass that convinced them they were going to contribute a couple more corpses the tragic toll.

Both knew that trekking the rugged Inca Trail in Peru would be no stroll in the park but some stretches were an absolute a nightmare. They were so ill from altitude sickness and exhausted after the gruelling climb that they felt they were going to die.

The rarefied atmosphere had Edith racked with headaches and every intake of breath felt like she was inhaling fire. Sandra was so shattered that the prospect of returning to her flood-ravaged home was more inviting than having to spend another night shivering and struggling for breath in a tiny tent.

But the pair bravely battled through with the help of their female guide Milu and Mario the cook. The baggage and camping equipment was carried by porters Lucio, Evaristo and Vidal to the end of the 42-Kilometer trail where the two thankfully less delirious and dizzy blondes could finally fix their tired gaze on the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu.

Crown Prosecution Service case worker Edith and court usher Sandra took on the trek to raise funds for the Breast Cancer Unit at Wansbeck General Hospital after seeing friends and family stricken. When all their sponsorship cash is finally counted they expect to have raised £5,000.

"We are grateful to everyone who backed us," said Sandra. "But believe me when I say we worked and walked hard for it. Even after spending a couple of days acclimatising we were shattered by the conditions at high altitude.

"We were in great spirits when we passed over Cusichaca — which means Bridge of Happiness. But when we got to Runkuracas — which means Pile of Ruins, we thought it had been named after us."

Edith added: "It was all worth it in the end for a very good cause. But there were times when I was in tears up in the mountains. Without Sandra's encouragement I would never have got through it and she was suffering as badly as I was.

"The only way you will get us back in a tent is if a rich Arab sheikh whisks us off to his desert kingdom for a life of luxury and riches. If you hear of one passing through Morpeth tell him we can be found at the Joiners Arms."

Meanwhile, the pub's landlord, George Hall, is proud of their achievement. "Their expedition was all carefully planned from the bar and my regulars were happy to support them," he said. "The girls did remarkably well considering that before they went to Peru Edith thought a Llama was a Tibetan Monk and Sandra believed Andes were what toddlers have hanging out of their sleevies."