Bonita Norris is youngest British woman to climb Everest

A 22-year-old woman has realised her "crazy" dream after becoming the youngest British female to reach the summit of Mount Everest, it was announced today.

Bonita Norris, from Wokingham, Berkshire, made it to the summit of the world's highest mountain early this morning, a spokeswoman for MPTU, her main sponsor, said.

During her climb, Ms Norris put herself at risk from the dangers of extreme altitude, frostbite, hypothermia and snow-blindness, and required bottled oxygen.

Jacqui Andrews, her mother, said: "We are so proud of Bonita in completing this amazing achievement.

"When Bonita told us back in 2008 that she wanted to climb Mount Everest, I have to admit we had reservations - it's such a dangerous thing for anyone, yet alone our daughter, to undertake.

"But, despite our initial misgivings, we've been behind Bonita every step of the way and we can't wait to welcome her home in a couple of days' time."

Ms Norris has raised money for Global Angels, an international foundation championing the causes of children around the world, through her Top Up Everest campaign.

Writing on her website, she said: "One morning, in 2008, I woke up with a crazy idea - the kind of idea you dismiss as a pipe dream.

"The kind of idea that you feel embarrassed to have even considered yourself able to put into action.

"But it stuck - my idea was to climb Everest in its spring season of 2010, and raise a shed load of cash for charity along the way."

She completed her campaign with British mountaineer Kenton Cool, 36, who also set a new British record by climbing Everest eight times.