A nine-year-old boy has become a two-time record breaker after hiking to the roof of Africa.

When Zain Ackrim reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro last month, with his 12-year-old brother Rehan, he became the youngest Briton the scale the mountain.

Moreover, the pair, who live in Holland Park and go to Colet Court School in Barnes, Richmond, also became the youngest brothers to ever conquer Africa’s highest peak, which stands at some 5,985m.

As well as tearing up the record books, the siblings also helped raise awareness of, and £4,000 for, a school building programme through the Global Angels Foundation charity.

The pair used an altitude acclimatisation machine in their home for two months to help them get ready for the trip.

They also prepared by going on a five-day hiking trip in the Italian Alps, regular trips up and down Mount Snowdon in Wales, and weekly visits to Surrey’s Box Hill.

They needed all the training to deal with the punishing 11-hour hike to the summit, which started in sub-zero temperatures at midnight followed by the six-hour descent.

The brothers were part of a group of 12 to climb the mountain, which included dad Raheel and mum Lindy.

Zain said: “It was hard work, I was really tired. The best part of probably getting down!”

And Rehan added: “It was really cold when we were climbing to the summit and it took really long. Getting to the top was a mixture of joy and relief.”

Accountant Raheel, 49, said: “We were all exhausted. It was traumatic, we’d never walked that time before.

"At that altitude you walk slowly because if you walk fast you become exhausted and can’t breath. It was relentless, step after step.

“It’s an amazing achievement for my wife and I and even more amazing that both the buys were there.

“We didn’t realise they’d be breaking records. It was only later when we checked that we realised. I’m glad though because it kept the pressure off the boys.”

The family are hoping to raise a total of £20,000 for the charity. To give go to http://hiking-to-the-top.uk/.