Record-breaking Oxfordshire pilot Polly Vacher has returned home to England after her four-month, 29,000-mile solo flight around the world.

Mrs Vacher, 57, from Gilbournes Farm, Drayton, near Abingdon, landed at Birmingham International Airport to become the first woman to fly solo around the globe via Australia and the Pacific in a single-engine plane. Her route, flying a Piper Dakota, took her over 17 countries.

Polly Vacher, pictured before departing on her journeyShe arrived in Wick, northern Scotland, from Iceland on Monday and the next day flew on to Leeds-Bradford airport where her tiny aircraft underwent repairs.

And, while the trusty Piper was in dock, Mrs Vacher drove to see friends in Yorkshire and took their dog for a walk in the English countryside.

She said: "It is good to be back home. It is very remote and relaxing on my friends' farm on the North Yorkshire Moors.

"It is so peaceful and great to walk the dog - but we had to keep to the roads because of the foot and mouth restrictions. What a problem to come back to!"

On Wednesday, she flew from Leeds-Bradford to RAF Cottesmore in Rutland, where she stays another night with friends. Today she was joined by two RAF Harrier jets which escort here on the final 20-minute hop to Birmingham International airport, where her great adventure started on January 12.

But Birmingham was not the end of the journey - Mrs Vacher was due to climb back into the plane which has been her home for the last four months and head for Enstone airfield in north Oxfordshire, where the Piper is kept with the Enstone Flying Club.

At Enstone, a party for more than 200 guests was being planned to celebrate her achievement - and then it will be time to go home.

Her husband, Peter, said: "By tonight the only party Polly will be looking forward to is a sleeping party in her own bed - she deserves it!

"It has been a truly remarkable performance. She came through with flying colours achieving her ambition and raising £150,00 for scholarships for disabled pilots."

Probably the biggest worry of the whole journey was the long hop from Hawaii across the Pacific to California - a 16-hour journey.

While she was taking photographs of the moon the engine stalled - she had forgotten to switch over the fuel tanks - but the engine started again without any problems.

Mr Vacher said: "The whole family is absolutely thrilled to see her back home safe and to know that she has achieved her ambition. She is tired but in good shape and glad to be back in England."

What has made Mrs Vacher's achievement even more remarkable is that she started flying only seven years ago.

She said: "I wanted to circle the globe but my main aim was to raise money so that disabled people can learn to fly. Everywhere I went I received a wonderful reception and, in seven countries, flying enthusiasts are going to set up fundraising events to help disabled people learn to fly.

"It was dramatic and exciting and there were scary moments like electric storms, a cyclone in New Caledonia which delayed me for a week and flying in low cloud over glaciers in Greenland.

"I think the isolation for long spells was the biggest problem, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world."

After the epic adventure comes the inevitable book. A journalist friend is to ghost write her journey and already a children's book called Polly the Pilot is nearing completion.

And is that the end of flying for Polly the Pilot? Has flying fatigue set in?

"Certainly not," she said. "After a rest I will be back in the cockpit again. I'm not so sure about another trip around the world - but we'll see!"

The chairman of Drayton Parish Council, Richard Wade, praised Mrs Vacher for her bravery and determination. He said: "It was a wonderful achievement and I am sure all the village will join me in sending warmest congratulations. We are pleased to see her back home safely.