A kind young animal advocate has scaled the UK’s highest mountain to help pooches who need a new home.

Lucas Finlayson, eight, climbed Ben Nevis to raise money for the Dogs Trust and collected £300.

Lucas, from Skelmorlie, decided to take on the peak - which stands at 4,413ft - after climbing Brown Hill in Largs with his dad Kevin just weeks beforehand.

Kevin has completed all of the Scottish ‘Ways’, including the West Highland, and has raised hundreds of pounds for Dogs Trust over the years. But he said the idea for climbing Ben Nevis came from Lucas.

Kevin added: “After we did the Brown Hill climb, Lucas asked what the tallest hill was in the UK and decided he wanted to conquer that next.

“On the day, I just told him that it didn’t matter how far he got or how long it took, I would be proud of him whatever he achieved.”

The pair made it up the hill in six hours, with the descent taking another five.

Kevin said he was overwhelmed by how well Lucas took to the challenge.

He said: “He ran up it like a mountain goat! “He just scampered right up there. “He was definitely the youngest climber there on the day.

“Folk kept stopping him and telling him how well he was doing.

“It had a big impact on our knees on the way back down but it was fantastic.”

Kevin says he felt very emotional when Lucas reached the summit.

He added: “When he stood on the top, it was the first time since he was born that I realised the full capabilities he has.

“On that day, he took his place in the world as a man.”

Lucas now wants to climb Scafell Pike, the tallest peak in England, and then Snowdon in Wales, to complete the UK’s three peaks.

And he wants to get his mum Kimberley and his wee sister Rebecca, seven, involved in the next climbs.

Lucas, pictured with puppy Lucy, said: “I really enjoyed climbing Ben Nevis.

“I want to say a big thank you to everyone who donated and sponsored me. I can’t wait to climb more and raise more money for charity.”