Round-the-world yachtsman Adrian Flanagan has been denied a place in the record books after hitching a lift on another boat.

The World Sailing Speed Record Council has refused to officially recognise Mr Flanagan's attempt to become the first sailor to complete a round-the-world voyage via the polar regions.

Mr Flanagan, 47, returned home to Ludgershall, near Bicester, this week after completing the final leg of his two-and-a-half year voyage.

When he set out in October 2005, the father-of-two hoped to become the first person to sail single-handed and non-stop around the globe via the Arctic.

But his journey was fraught with problems, which meant the former business development manager had to stop three times - in Hawaii, Alaska and Norway - as well as hitch a lift from an ice-breaking ship in the Russian Arctic.

Today, his former wife Louise Flanagan, who managed the challenge, said Mr Flanagan was not bothered about making it into the record books - and had only wanted to complete the trip.

She said: "We long ago gave up being worried about what these organisations think.

"Whatever the WSSRC say, it is irrefutable that Adrian is the first yachtsman to travel that route, whether or not it meets their conditions.

"It is irrefutable Adrian has become the first single-handed yachtsman the Russians have ever given permission to sail their territorial waters.

"We knew ages ago (that it would not make the record books) - and we didn't really care. It was about finding a route around the world no-one has ever been able to do before, because it is too treacherous and could not get permission.

"The world knows what he did and has recognised that achievement."

Ms Flanagan also revealed that her former husband's trip had raised about £1,500 for the Oxford Children's Hospital, and £500 for Save The Children.

John Reed, secretary of the WSSRC, said Mr Flanagan's trip was impressive - but it did not qualify as an official record.

Mr Reed said: "It is certainly not a record attempt or a record claim under our rules, because he did not complete the voyage.

"We are the WSSRC and ratify records under sail - putting your boat on a freighter and transferring it quite some considerable distance is not sailing under any means, so we are not recognising it.

"It's a difficult situation. It's a fine achievement, but it's not a record under the sailing rules.

"It has been a great voyage, but in putting his boat on another boat and getting a lift he, in our terms, abandoned it.

"The record still hasn't been done - it's up for grabs."