A TEN-year-old "chocolate monster" has raised around £600 for a baby hospice by completing a 2.6 challenge and giving up sweets during lockdown.

Chaloner Primary School, Guisborough, student Louie Davies was encouraged by the school to take on a "Chaloner challenge", which was first to give up sweets and chocolate for two weeks.

After mum Clair Davies saw an appeal by Middlesbrough's Zoe's Place asking people to take part in the 2.6 challenge, which is an initiative to help charities who have suffered loss of income due to cancelled events during the coronavirus pandemic, Louie incorporated 2.6-mile walks into his challenge

Ms Davies said: "He was already giving up snacks for two weeks, as during lockdown our tummies grew and our sweet tooth had got worse.

"The original idea was members of the family were going to reward him at the end of his two week snack detox. I saw the 2.6 challenge and thought what a good idea to do it as a sponsor."

Launching a Just Giving page, Louie, whose dream is to become a policeman and is "obsessed" with what they do and how they help people, wanted to raise £50 to donate to the hospice but smashed his target, raising £600 and walking a total of 44.52 miles.

"Louie is a very kind little boy, always keen to help others, and is a very sensitive little soul. He’s brilliant with children and has two young cousins who he adores," mum, 42, added.

"When I explained what Zoe’s Place do he agreed it was an amazing cause to support. He found it so sad when I told him how for some children life is limited and he said it would be nice to help them and their families as he is very lucky.

"He likes to keep up to date with what is happening in the world and loves watching the news and talking about world issues. He is very talkative and inquisitive."

Wendy Reason, director of income generation and communications at Zoe’s Place Baby Hospices said: "We are incredibly grateful to Louie for raising such a huge amount of money for Zoe’s Place in Middlesbrough from the 2.6 challenge– what a tremendous effort from such a young supporter.

"A huge thank you to superstar Louie from us all at Zoe’s Place.”

After completing the challenge, Louie baked the family a chocolate cake, which he said was delicious, but enjoyed the walks so much that the family are planning on returning to his favourite spot in Guisborough Woods.

Ms Davies finalised: "He said he feels very good for raising the money because he has helped someone in need. Zoe’s Place have said that the money he has raised will pay for an entire day/night care for a child when the hospice re opens."