A FEARLESS adventurer reached new heights in a hot air balloon as she soared higher than any other woman before her.

Alicia Hempleman-Adams broke several records by drifting above Canadian clouds at 15,100ft with nothing but a 3ft by 3ft wicker basket between her and the ground far, far below.

The 30-year-old fashion consultant spent almost two hours in the air, enduring temperatures of -30C in a balloon barely as big as a double-decker bus.

She said: “It was pretty frightening up there, I’ve never felt so cold and at that height you feel very alone and a little bit helpless.

“I love ballooning and have done a few flights a year since I got my licence eight years ago, but it’s not like I can just pop up to Hyde Park and stick a balloon up. So to break the world and British records for female altitude is unbelievable for a relative novice like me.”

Alicia’s feat in Calgary sees her following in the footsteps of her Swindon-born father Sir David, who holds more than 20 hot air balloon world records. He worked as part of her support team and greeted her when she safely returned to terra firma.

Alicia added: “I grew up following my dad’s incredible exploits and he has been a huge inspiration. He instilled an adventurous spirit in all of us and that has helped me in my life and career, but I never thought I’d ever be a world record holder.

“When I told him I wanted to go for the record, I think he thought I was mad, so I’m really proud to have shown him that I really could do it.”

Alicia took the world record from Irishwoman Pauline Baker, who soared to 4,272m (14,015ft) in January 2008. Plus, she broke the British altitude and duration records that had been set 25 and 27 years ago respectively. She nearly doubled the British altitude record and was up there nine minutes longer than the old British record.

In 1998 aged 8, Alicia was at the time the youngest person ever to visit the North Pole and aged 15 she became the youngest person to ski across Baffin Island in the Arctic north of Canada.

Proud father Sir David said: “I am pleased as punch that Alicia has broken these records, but it’s very dangerous up there so I’m also relieved that she came down safe and sound.

“Attempting to break the world altitude record was the closest I ever came to killing myself. Everything starts breaking at -30C, even steel can snap in half like a twig.

“The Duke of Edinburgh told me once that there’s no such thing as an easy world record and he was so right. Alicia should be very proud.

“I think this flight scared the life out of her, so hopefully she’ll keep her feet on the ground for a while now.

"You bring your daughters up, educate them and teach them how to fly and then they go off and beat your records.”

Alicia’s balloon was constructed last year in Barcelona out of a new type of sustainable double layered material.

Calgary was chosen as the venue for the attempt as the low temperatures, around -20 at ground level, help the balloon to operate more efficiently and the flat prairies are ideal for take-off and landing. The team had been in Calgary for a week acclimatising before the successful record attempt.

Alicia’s record attempt was supported by Mamont Vodka and philanthropists Frederik Paulsen and George Farha.