A schoolboy has raised more than £2,000 for charity by teaching himself to bake and holding a cake sale.

Callum Boyle, nine, wanted to set up a small stall outside his home to help his friend Che Tinsley, 11, who has Down’s syndrome.

But after seeing how much support the local community gave him, Callum had to enlist the help of his school friends and relocate the event to St Helens Church Hall, on June 18.

Callum said: “Che is a great friend. We raise money for Down’s Syndrome Awareness Day every year at school but I wanted to do more.

“It’s been fun practicing baking so many cakes, but mum’s not too keen on the mess I leave.”

The student, from Holy Rood Catholic Primary School, not only gathered support from peers and councillors, but also from the House of Lords and Arsenal Football Club, who donated a signed shirt for an auction.

Claire Tinsley, Che’s mother, said: “I think it is incredible that a boy as young as nine even thought about organising a charity event.

“Callum is a fantastic boy and Che feels very lucky to have him as a friend.”

Raffle prizes included a signed flag from Watford Football Club, holiday cottage stays in Ireland and the Isle of Wight and passes for Willow and Langleybury farm.

All the money raised goes to Hertfordshire-based organisation, Up on Downs, which is the only Down’s syndrome charity in the area.

Baroness Sal Brinton, whose nephew has Down's syndrome, also donated a prize for the raffle.

She said: “This very young charity fundraiser makes me extremely proud of our next generation in Watford.

“It is heart-warming to know that someone so young can be so generous with his time.

“It is important to support charities like Up on Down's because they help people with Down’s syndrome believe in themselves and improve opportunities available to them.”