A COMPASSIONATE youngster upset by the plight of homeless people is determined to raise money to help them.

At just ten-years-old Sammy Robinson could be forgiven for being unaware of the hardship faced by some adults but his mum Jane said he has always been upset at the sight of people sleeping on the streets.

He has now taken it upon himself to do a sponsored run in support of a scheme that runs a breakfast club for people in need in Northallerton.

Sammy, of Carlton Miniott, has raised around £100 in sponsorship for the run which he aims to complete this afternoon with his friend Joshua Brooks, also ten.

The pair will run from the Carlton Minott playing fields to the Millennium playing fields.

Explaining his motivation, Sammy said: "I think about everything that I have, and that is everything that I want, but I see people that are unhappy and they don't really have everything that I do.

"So I wanted to make them happy even though they are homeless."

Mum Jane said she was proud of Sammy's attitude and his desire to help others.

She said: "He is a very, very conscientious little boy.

"I am so, so proud of him, he has just got a real social conscience.

"When he was younger if we were out shopping in the city and saw someone sleeping on the streets we would always buy them something like a sandwich and I think he has taken that on board."

Ms Robinson also sets an example by helping people through her business, the Terrace Cafe in Northallerton.

She regularly donates food to the breakfast club in Northallerton and in July she implemented a 'pay it forward' scheme where customers can choose to make a donation which is then used to buy food for the club.

The breakfast club provides meals to homeless people or anyone finding themselves in hardship.

Ms Robinson said she could foresee Sammy doing regular fundraising for the club, suggesting that he might raise money in the festive period to pay for a Christmas dinner for people in need.