Eight-year-old boy runs 32 miles and scales 15 summits in a single day

An eight-year-old boy has completed one of the UK's epic mountain challenges in under 16 hours.

Benji, from Llanberis, Gwynedd, ran the Welsh 3000s in Eryri, also known as Snowdonia, covering 32 miles (50km), 15 summits, and nearly 4,000m (13,000ft) of total ascent in 15 hours and 58 minutes.

Mum Toni Howden, who is an outdoor instructor, has been taking her son out in the mountains since he was a baby.

Benji said he loved running and being outdoors in the mountains, but his main aim was to raise as much money as he could for the mountain rescue organisation.

Benji said he felt "very tired" near the end of the challenge, but he was determined to finish.

Benji said his favourite part was at the beginning of the run where he was "sliding on the mud" and enjoyed running down Y Garn in the Glyderau range of Eryri National Park.

Toni, 38, said when she dropped him off to complete the first section it was "windy and rainy" and she felt nervous about letting him attempt such a demanding challenge.

However, she said, Benji was surrounded by "amazing" and "experienced" adults who volunteered to help him complete his challenge.

She said: "He's so sweet. He stands on top of the mountains and he's like, 'look, look, look how pretty it is'."

Toni said that friends helped provide food, including pasta and egg muffins, throughout the day and would hold up welcoming signs for Benji at different checkpoints.

"It was pretty amazing. It was such a community effort," she added.

Benji only had about two hours of rest during the challenge, which Toni said was "hard watch because he was tired, like really tired".

She added that he is "competitive" and didn't want to give up.

Benji has raised more than £1,800 for Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue.

"I used to be able to keep up with him all of the time, but now I can't keep up with him downhill," Toni said.

The Welsh 3000s spans three distinct mountain ranges in Eryri.

The challenge is to attempt to climb all 15 mountains that rise above 3,000 feet (914.4 meters) within 24 hours.

Benji now has his sights on climbing the highest mountain in the Alps and western Europe, Mont Blanc, which is 4,807.3 meters (15,772 feet).

He also wants to run the gruelling long-distance fell challenge in Eryri, the Paddy Buckley Round, where he would have to climb 47 summits over 62 miles (100km).