A kind-hearted schoolboy has been counting his chickens and raised much-needed funds for a charity striving to combat world poverty.

Barnard Castle Preparatory School pupil Ned Hutt may have kept chickens for two years but in the past 12 months hasn’t eaten a single egg.

That’s because as soon as his birds lay their eggs his mum sends a message out to happy customers around their village near Appleby and every one is sold.

The proceeds of his egg sales, and his sideline business of compost making, go to the charity Concern Worldwide, which works with 25 million people globally who have to survive on £1.50 a day.

The charity seeks to fight extreme poverty and work with people living in the most difficult situations to bring about self-sufficiency and lasting change to lives, livelihoods and communities.

Ned’s efforts so far have been enough to buy communities a goat, to provide milk and compost, a pig, for piglets, two start-up chicken farms, for eggs, meat and chicks, and a set of children’s library books to improve child literacy.

“It started when we had a new kitchen and we made egg boxes from the spare wood,” said the eight-year-old.

“I had eight chickens, Pekins, and they laid really well. People in the village and around the area buy them all. I haven’t eaten one of my own eggs in over a year. They are nice eggs and every day people ask us if we have any. If I deliver them I get an extra 50p.”

His social enterprise hasn’t been without some setbacks. Red mite attacked his flock and some of the chickens died. “I will always have chickens as they are so nice to have,” he said. “I love watching them scratch around and I feed them breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. It’s also a nice way to help people who are living in poverty.”

Barnard Castle Prep School headmistress Laura Turner said: “Ned is a perfect example of how action locally can impact globally. He is doing a tremendous job with his charitable efforts and is a worthy recipient of our Heart of Gold Award for going above and beyond outside of school.”