A KIND-HEARTED toddler will visit Downing Street and meet Prime Minister Gordon Brown after reaching the finals of a national competition.

Two-year-old Marcus Durkin impressed judges for Channel Five News’ Britain’s Kindest Kids contest, after completing a five-mile toddle in aid of forces charity Help for Heroes.

Marcus, who lives in Colburn, near Catterick Garrison, raised nearly £2,000 by walking from his home to the war memorial in Richmond with his mother Emily, on his second birthday in June.

After he was featured in The Northern Echo, his godmother decided to enter him into the contest – promoted by newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky.

The five finalists will travel to 10 Downing Street on October 7, where they will chat with Mr Brown.

Their stories will feature on Channel Five News, and viewers will be able to vote for their favourite.

The winner will get £1,000 pocket money, £1,000 to give to their favourite charities, an award presented on Channel Five News, and a tour of the news studio.

Mrs Durkin, whose husband, Shaun, is a serving soldier with the First Yorkshire Regiment at Catterick Garrison, said: “We entered Marcus on a whim, thinking he might get a nice letter back or something, but we never imagined he’d make it to the final.

“When you look at some of the children in that contest, and the amazing work they do for charity, it’s an absolute honour for Marcus to be there alongside them.

“After all, how many twoyear- olds can say they have met the Prime Minister?”

Britain’s Kindest Kids – organised by Channel Five News and the Charities Aid Foundation – is a search to find the country’s most charitable children who have given up their free time for a worthy cause.

Mrs Durkin said: “Help for Heroes is a charity that means a lot to us as a family.

“Although Marcus might not fully understand what it all means, he’s such a kindhearted child and I want him to grow up to be a kindhearted adult too.”

By Philippa Weighell philippa.weighell@nne.co.uk She added: “He’s very excited about going to London – he keeps asking if Mr Brown will be serving tea and cake.”

For details, go to five.tv/news