A SCHOOLBOY will celebrate his ninth birthday with a sponsored swim to raise money for his local church.

Niall Mellor is hoping to raise about £200 for the Under The Roof Appeal at St James Church, Coundon, when he takes to the water at Woodhouse Close Leisure Complex, Bishop Auckland, next week.

His grandmother, Elizabeth Mellor, said Niall attends Sunday School at the church and wanted to do something to help.

She said: "I think it is fantastic that Niall is doing this. He used to be frightened of the water and now he's doing so well. This is something he knows he can do and it is something he can do for his church.

"A lot of work has been done at the church and they are trying to raise some money to put in glass partitions and bean bags to make the Sunday School more attractive and encourage more children to go along.''

Niall will swim as many lengths of the pool as he can on Tuesday, between noon and 1pm. Donations can be made at St James Vicarage, in Coundon.