A father who promised to drag a 19st anvil to the top of a mountain to show how much he supported his young daughter has completed his challenge.

Davy Ballantyne, whose 10-year-old daughter Roísín was recently diagnosed with type-1 diabetes, pledged to heave the iron block up the highest peak near their home in Arran to show her that she was not alone in her struggle with the disease.

“I needed something that was going to be a real struggle, because that’s what diabetes is,” Davy says.

For the 54-year-old, who had not seen the inside of a gym until a few months before he started the challenge, it was a massive physical undertaking.

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As his daughter was forced to drastically change her diet and lifestyle to cope with her illness, Davy joined her.

He lost almost two stone training for the challenge and was able to carry the anvil, which weighs as much as a baby elephant, around 500ft each day before leaving it to return the next day and take up where he left off.

Known as “Big Davy”, the 6ft 4in dad donned his kilt and dragged the anvil by a rope up to the 2866ft peak of Goatfell Mountain, reaching the summit on Sunday after a tremendous last push.

“I was swearing at it for the last hour as I was at my absolute end,” says Davy. “It took 24 days to get it up there. It was a bit of a killer. My ribs are hurting and my feet are a bit blistered, but we made it.”

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Having gathered the support of nearly the entirely island over the last few weeks, Davy managed to raise over £12,000 to support further research into his daughter’s illness which currently affects around 6,400 families in Scotland.

As his daughter was forced to drastically change her diet and lifestyle to cope with her illness, Davy joined her. Fraser Aitchison

It comes at the same time as the much welcomed news that a major trial is set to start in the country aimed at preventing type-1 diabetes in children.

Scotland has the third highest rate of type-1 diabetes in the world and researchers say if it is successful, the trial will offer a cost-effective way of preventing the disease that could be made available immediately to children at risk.

“It’s fantastic news,” says Davy. “Hopefully the funds we’ve raised can help the trial further.”

Davy at the summit after a 24 day mission to heave it up the mountain. Fraser Aitchison

As well as generously donating to Davy’s pledge to Roisin, Arran residents have also launched a campaign to keep the anvil at the top of the mountain now that Davy has dragged it up there.

A campaign page with more than 350 signatures has been created to support its permanent place there in the hope it will become “a legendary story and talking point at the highest point on the island” that will “add to tourism and folklore and mystery of a small Scottish island”.

Some of the island residents were also there as Davy heaved the anvil over those last few steps, including his pal Andy who brought some bagpipes to pipe the dad through his final day.

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And, waiting at the summit with her mother, was Davy’s also very proud daughter Roísín.

Davy Ballantyne, his wife Annelies, and his 10-year-old daughter Roisin. Fraser Aitchison

“She was extremely tired but she was very proud,” says Davy. “It felt unbelievably good to get it over that last bit.”

“Thanks to everybody that supported us, especially to Fraser who photographed the entire journey. Every wee bit of support was much appreciated.”

For now, Davy is hanging up his kilt and says he has no immediate plans to carry any other heavy objects.

“Though if anybody needs any advice on dragging anvils up mountains, I’m your man,” he says. “I’m happy to help.”