Followers of the Grumpy Old Fellwalker say they will wait for evidence before accepting the claim of the youngest ever completer of Wainwright’s 214 Lakeland peaks.

Six-year-old Ben Fleetwood of Selside, Kendal, claims to have conquered every fell covered in Alfred Wainwright’s acclaimed Pictorial Guides – that’s a total of 135,000ft (41,150m) of ascent, more than 4½ Everests.

Tarn Crag, Ben's final conquest 

If confirmed, it will make Ben the youngest to have successfully tackled all the Wainwrights. Current holder of the honour is Kerry Regan of Macclesfield, who accomplished the feat at the age of seven years, nine months. Ben’s seventh birthday is in three months.

Ben’s summiting of Tarn Crag, at the head of Longsleddale, completed the tally, which started with an ascent of Lingmoor when he was less than three. A Wainwright Society spokesman said the achievement will not be recognised until its committee has ratified it.

Ben was accompanied on his Lakeland odyssey by his father John, aged 42.