An adventurous teenager who has just tackled Antarctica's highest peak is set for a record-breaking ascent up Mount Everest.

George Atkinson, 16, has his sights on becoming the youngest person in the world to complete the seven summit challenge.

If his Everest climb in April succeeds, he will have fulfilled his dream as he has already conquered Mount Elbrus, Carstenz Pyramid, Aconcagua and Denali.

His first achievement came at just 11, when he climbed Mount Kilmanjaro - insisting the guide take him to the summit when he advised him to stop.

He completed the Kilimanjaro climb with his dad Mark, 51, after a talk in school inspired him.

They then did Elbrus together after seeing an advert, and it seemed logical to go on to do the continents' five other highest peaks.

But he soon outgrew his dad, and went solo after the first four mountains.

His mum Penny, 45, said it was very hard to watch him set off alone as her motherly instincts take over.

Although incredibly proud, she said his success was a double-edged sword because of how much she worries about him.

She said: "For me as his mum, I am always looking to see how much weight he has lost and sometimes it is quite a lot. But, I have to say that he tends to come home and do nothing but eat and sleep for a week.

"He hasn't had frostbite thank goodness, but he got really bad wind damage to his face on Aconcagua. When I picked him up at the airport I was horrified at the state of his face. It looked all scabbed and sore. I plastered him with Vaseline and in 24 hours I could begin to see his proper face again."

The Surbiton family, including Mr Atkinson's younger sister Josie, 19, have always been keen walkers, and it was a family trip up Slieve Donard, in Northern Ireland, that sparked a desire to reach new heights.

By the age of eight, he had climbed all of the UK's highest peaks.

If all goes to plan, Mr Atikinson will set off on his mammoth Everest challenge on April 2 and will be away for two months.

Mrs Atkinson said: "I am always so relieved to hear when they have got to the top but even more relieved to hear they are on the plane and on their way home. Sometimes we hear nothing for days and that is the worse time. "

Follow his progress at adventurepeaks.com.