TWO schoolboys have been scaling Mount Everest – on their staircase at home.

Miles and Austin Baycroft will have to go up and down the stairs more than 1,500 times to reach the equivalent of the top of the world’s highest peak.

The brothers, aged 11 and nine, have been doing the challenge as part of an extra curricular activity during lockdown.

They both attend St Christopher’s School in Hove and have been busy doing their lessons sent to them online each day by teachers.

But they are raising money for NHS Charities Together, and Together Co, the loneliness charity based in Brighton.

Miles said: “I thought of the idea when I Googled exciting challenges on YouTube. The challenge is harder than we thought but we are now halfway through and being encouraged by the donations.”

His mother Allie Baycroft said Miles got the idea as he is a member of the Sea Cadets and is interested in the outdoors, adventure and challenges completed by celebrities such as Bear Grylls.

She said: “Miles told me ‘I think we should climb Everest’ so my husband Mike measured the height and worked out how many steps that would be.

“It is 1,508 times up our staircase.”

Austin has joined his brother in the epic quest.

Between them, they have also started using stairs at outdoor sites such as at the seafront to allow them to reach higher altitudes on their ascent.

Mrs Baycroft said: “They are now about halfway through and wanted to carry on the challenge over the May bank holiday.

“The boys have been out on the seafront running up and down, it is keeping them busy. At home it has been quite noisy and my carpet now looks a bit threadbare.

“They wanted to finish the challenge at the Amex stadium where there are lots of stairs.”

She said the boys have been inspired to help the NHS charities during the coronavirus pandemic as well as the Together Co charity.

Mrs Baycroft said: “It has been tough for them in lockdown, but the school has been great at encouraging them to do different things.

“For Austin it has been a bit more difficult as the novelty has worn off.

“The school has been putting on Zoom classes and even a disco on WhatsApp.

“We are lucky they have had lessons in the morning to the afternoon, where the teacher goes online and sets up the work.

“For the project work, it shows them how life can change. I think they have done really well.”

Miles and Austin have been sent a flag by their grandparents which they can use to mark the top of the mountain when they reach it.

But they are still hoping to raise extra money for their charities.

To donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/baycroft?utm_term=B3ayBaNpB.