They set off on an epic 15,000-mile journey across Europe, the West Indies, the United States, Canada and New Zealand by bike, plane, bus and hitch-hiking.

Today, they are back in Britain after their nine-month trek, having dipped their toes into 17 of the Baths.

In addition, they have visited the Somerset city's four official twin towns, plus other locations associated with bathing - such as those with hot springs. But they haven't thrown in the towel.

They now plan to fly to Bath's unofficial twin towns of Manly in Australia and Beppu, Japan, before cycling next summer from Bath, Somerset, to the 18th and final Bath - a tiny hamlet in Fife.

'We've had a great time', said 39-year-old Mr Ainsley, who runs a classical music internet site.

'We met mayors, a chief of police, civic dignitaries and featured in local newspapers.

'Everybody seemed to think the tour was a wonderful idea.'

Being keen bikers - 37-year-old Miss Lack is a cycling journalist - they pedalled 3,000 miles around the Netherlands, Germany, France and Hungary on the first leg of the tour, which started in April.

After jetting to the Caribbean, they went on to the U.S,. and Canada - where the bulk of the Baths are located.

'What attracted me to the other Baths is that most of them are not mentioned in the guidebooks,' said Mr Ainsley.

'They are just small, relatively unknown towns and villages which get few visitors.'

In the U.S., wihch boasts 11 Baths, their visit to Bath, Illinois - a hunting village with a population of 350 and four bars - was most memorable.

'Everyone seemed to be in the four bars,' said Mr Ainsley. 'They immediately knew we were strangers, but made us welcome and bought us lots of drinks.' In Bath, Michigan, the chief of police wheeled out a mobile bathtub for the couple to road-test. 'It's used in the town's annual bath tub race. The only problem was that I forgot they drive on the right and caused a real traffic jam.'

they became celebrities in Bath, New York, giving an interview to the local radio station and recording a jingle. While in the Caribbean they met the Prime Minister of St Kitts-Nevis, and in Barbados were invited to the Opposition Leader's house.

Mr Ainsley raised £8,000 for Imperial Cancer Research on the tour, in memory of his father tony - who died of cancer in April after helping to plan the route.

He said: 'I hope our trip will inspire others to do the same, whether they come from Salisbury or Wolverhampton.'