Red Széll practising for his Old Man of Hoy attempt. Photo: Nick Carter

A London househusband has become the first blind man to climb the Old May of Hoy sea stack off the northern Scottish coast.

Red Széll successfully completed the route up the column of red sandstone on Thursday, raising more than £10,000 for medical research with his record-breaking climb.

The 41-year-old has retinitis pigmentosa, which has robbed him of 90 per cent of his sight.

He was supported in his successful ascent of the Old Man by climbers Martin Moran and Nick Carter.

Cash pledged from his remarkable venture will go to the RP Fighting Blindness charity.

The Old Man of Hoy. Photo: Grinner CC-BY-SA-2.0

The 137m (449ft) column was first climbed by Chris Bonington, Rusty Baillie and Tom Patey in a live television broadcast watched by 15 million viewers.

Mr Széll said before his climb: “Fortunately having only very limited sight means that I don’t really suffer from worry about exposure which, according to those who’ve climbed the Old Man who I’ve spoken to, is a positive bonus as far as the traverse is concerned.”

His justgiving website has details of how to donate to the charity.