JAMES O’Neill’s may not be the biggest donation to Wheatley Hill’s mining memorial sculpture campaign, but it has certainly spurred fundraisers on to hit their target.

The nine-year-old schoolboy was so keen to see the Mothers’ Club and History Club effort succeed he saved up his pocket money and did extra chores for his grandmother to get together his donation, of £12.50.

Margaret Hedley, who is helping lead the fundraising, said: “We all thought it was fantastic. Everyone who heard about it thought it was such a selfless act from a little boy.”

James, who lives in Elwick, near Hartlepool, said: “Mining is a really big part of North-East history and we should remember how hard the miners worked to get the coal.”

Wheatley Hill hopes to have the sculpture ready by May 2018, the 50th anniversary of the closure of its pit in 1968.

The piece would be placed near former site of the pit, which was the main employer in the village for nearly a century.

Campaigners hope to raise £10,000 locally, in addition to securing grant and charitable funding.

Sculptor Ray Lonsdale, creator of Seaham’s much-loved ‘Tommy’ statue, has already drawn up designs, based on a photograph of Wheatley Hill miner Tot Davies from 1963 and showing a miner in work clothes, knee pads and helmet, turning to look over his shoulder at the pit.

James, whose grandmother Joan Taylor lives in Wheatley Hill and whose great-grandfather was a miner in neighbouring Thornley, also produced his own design, inspiring supporters to run competitions in the village’s two primary schools to design and name the sculpture.

Mrs Taylor said: “I told him (James) they were trying to get a statue of a miner to commemorate the heritage of Wheatley Hill.

“He said he would save his pocket money. He’s very interested in history, especially local and village history.

“Then he said he’d do a design. He’s very good at drawing.”

To support the campaign, visit crowdfunding.justgiving.com/wheatley-hillhistory