Young scientists smashed several UK ballooning records – by mistake.

The pupils, aged between 15 and 17, have been running the Apex high altitude balloon project since September 2008.

The team, which includies New Malden student Priyah Patel, use meteorological balloons to take photographs, capture video and collect sensor data from near space.

Their balloon typically rises to an altitude of 36,500m (120,000ft), three-and-a-half times the altitude of a commercial aeroplane.

Some of the incredible images taken from Sutton Grammar School for Boys’ Apex project are shown here.

On Saturday, the team tried to break the world record for the highest altitude balloon, by sending a balloon and its lightweight data payload Alpha up to an altitude of 41,500m (136,000ft).

Because of strong winds it only reached 36,645m.

But the strong winds meant, while the balloon, launched from Cambridge University, was originally expected to land in Denmark, it is believed to have carried until Russia or Ukraine.

It went out of radio range, having already broken the UK distance record by travelling 837m (1,347km).

If it arrives in Russia it will have travelled 1,243m (2,000km).

The team also broke the UK duration of flight record, by travelling 12 hours 20 minutes.

Team member Priyesh said: “Although we didn’t beat the altitude record as we originally planned, we did beat some other impressive UK records.”

The six pupils working on the project, Priyesh Patel, Daniel Saul, Edward Branford, Philip Warren, Alex Landless, Michael Woodgate and Alex Wakefield, have entered the project in the National Science and Engineering Competition.

The balloon was completely self-built by pupils at the school.

School physics teacher, Jamie Costello, who helps the pupils run the project, said the pupils had a great chance of winning the competition.

Their next planned balloon launch is for spring 2012.

Apex III will measure radiation, gas levels, and an ash sensor that would collect data in the event of another volcanic eruption.

The project is looking for sponsors.