A YOUNGSTER who tackled a 4,000 metre mountain climb has handed over thousands of pounds raised to St Helena Hospice.

Sam Ford, who is eight, was the youngest UK child to have successfully climbed Mount Toukbal in Morocco.

He was raising money for the hospice where his grandad, John Walker, was cared for.

Sam who attends Friars Grove Primary School in Colchester trekked for six days and managed to raise £3,231 for the hospice.

His dad Martin, who climbed the mountain with him, said he was thrilled with the fundraising total and presented a cheque to hospice staff.

He said: “Sam was really happy with the total and there is still more money to come.

“His school is hosting a sponsored run next Friday.”

Martin submitted an application for Sam to be awarded a Guinness world record as the youngest child in the UK to reach the summit.

He is also only the fourth child aged under 11 to scale such heights.

Sam decided he wanted to climb a mountain after his dad told him he would climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in October.

Sam’s grandma had given him one of his grandad’s watches before the trek, so he could have part of his grandad with him.