Reading mascot Kingsley the Lion has been sent on a sensational journey to the edge of space and back again, in an attempt to recreate Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner’s record-breaking jump of last October.

The stunt was an attempt to raise money by the children at Purley CE Infant School, who had been learning about space with Dr Robert Thompson and Graeme Marlton of the University of Reading’s Department of Meteorology.

The fundraiser however, was the brainchild of Reading FC season ticket holder and local parent Phil Allen, whose daughter Scarlet attends Purley School.

Teaming up with Dave Akerman, who broke the UK amateur record for an unmanned balloon flight in December 2011 when he achieved a height of 134,468ft, the two managed to send Kingsley on his first journey on Saturday 29th June.

However, there was a problem with the camera on the first attempt, and so Kingsley went up again last weekend, with a video of his ascent successfully recorded.

The school managed to raise £420 for the school’s PTA which Mr Allen’s employer, Microsoft, offered to double.