SCHOOLBOY Theo Roberts has started his first fund-raising challenge by collecting litter in Wiveliscombe every day for 100 days.

Nine-year-old Wiveliscombe Primary School pupil Theo collected 5.3 kg of litter in his first two days and will continue until mid-December.

Theo’s mother Molly Roberts said: “He has been nature mad since he could talk.

“More recently, through the media and news, he has become aware of the damage being done to our natural world.

“He decided he wanted to make a positive difference to ocean plastic pollution and set himself a super fund-raising challenge.

“We are super proud of him, as are his local community in Wiveliscombe.”

Theo said he would be picking up litter in and around Wiveliscombe come ‘rain, shine, or snow’ and the money raised would go to the Surfers Against Sewage charity.

He said: “I want to help stem the flow of plastic making its way into our oceans.

“I love wildlife and the ocean and everything wild in between.

“I wanted to do something to help our rural community, our wild spaces, and the oceans and I think I can make a difference.

“I have chosen to raise money for Surfers Against Sewage because they are working hard to keep our oceans and rivers clean and that mission is important to me.

“If you think my challenge is cool, please sponsor me a couple of pounds.

“I am going to try and raise as much as I can and will definitely be picking up a lot of litter in Wivey.

“If I cannot find enough litter here, my mum has agreed to drive me to our next village.”

Theo has set himself a £500 target and this week had already reached £345 with nearly 30 people supporting him.

Anybody who wants to back Theo’s fund-raising can find his JustGiving page online.