Cambridgeshire grandmother becomes officially the oldest person to walk over London's O2 Arena

Fulbourn resident Phyllis Scott, who is 93, completed the guided climb across the arena roof to raise money for stem cell treatment for her grandson, Thomas, who suffered a major stroke 10 years ago at the age of 16.

Phyllis, who did the walk with her son Andrew and her daughter Jane, said: “Somebody had to do something to raise money for Thomas.

"It was between that and a parachute jump, and I thought that the walk would be the easiest thing to do.

"But in actual fact, having done it, I think perhaps the parachute jump might have been easier. But I would have been more frightened.”

Phyllis explained that although Thomas has regained quite a lot of movement, he still has limited use of the right side of his body.

“At first, they didn’t expect him to survive,” she recalled, “but he’s worked very hard at his rehabilitation.”

Thomas has already had one stem cell injection and is walking better as a result.

“He’s got no use of his right arm yet but he has got pins and needles in it,” said Phyllis, “so they’re saying that that is good because now there is feeling in it.”

Phyllis, who raised £1,000 by organising a tea dance at The Swifts in Fulbourn in September last year, says Thomas’s dream was always to join the army and train at Sandhurst but, despite not being able to realise it, he has immersed himself in military-related activities.

“He hired a barn from a farmer and with just his left hand he’s done up an army jeep – and he took it to Normandy just recently for the anniversary of the D-Day Landings,” said Phyllis.

“It was on the beach with all the other old wartime vehicles, so that was lovely for him to be able to do that.

"He does drive – he has a specially adapted car – and he goes to auctions and buys up army stuff.

“He’s done a welding course, with just his left hand, and he tries very hard. He’s worth any amount of effort – but as far as the walk was concerned, I found it terribly hard.

"It’s not solid, it’s like walking on a trampoline, which doesn’t help really.

“But the people from the O2 were amazing – they were so kind and helped me so much – and I am officially the oldest person to have done it.”

Phyllis does not yet know how much money the walk has raised.