Everest: George Atkinson's target to gain the record. Photo: Sotti CC-BY-SA-3.0

A British teenager will attempt to snatch the record as the youngest person to climb the world’s Seven Summits.

George Atkinson of Surrey is due to head for the summit of Everest in the early hours of Thursday.

If he succeeds, the 16-year-old will become the youngest to have summited the highest peaks on the Earth’s seven continents.

He was reported this evening to have set off on the final push up the North-East Ridge from Camp Three at 8,300m (27,231ft) on the Adventure Peaks-led expedition.

If he succeeds, the teenage mountaineer, who will be 17 on 29 May, will beat the record currently held by 17-year-old American Johnny Collinson.

The Surbiton peakbagger started his Seven Summits quest at the age of 11 when he reached the top of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Mount Elbrus in Russia followed in 2007, with the Carstensz Pyramid, Indonesia, and Argentina’s highest peak Aconcagua the following year.

Denali in Alaska was bagged, followed by Mount Vinson in Antarctica. He has saved the highest till last.

George is using his Everest attempt to raise cash through his Virgin Money Giving page for a children’s hospice.

• Keswick mountaineer Tim Mosedale claimed his place as only the 10th Briton to summit Everest from both north and south sides.

The climber successfully made the top of the world’s highest mountain on Friday, from the Nepalese side, having made the ascent from Tibet in 2005.

Tim, who runs a bed and breakfast in the Lakeland town, has more than 10 years experience in Nepal and has summited Lobuche East five times, Island Peak seven times, Mera Peak twice and added Ama Dablam to his list of ‘ticks’ last November.

He is married with two children.