A Newquay youngster has raised £1,500 for charity taking on a rowing challenge.

Dylan King, aged six, rowed up the river Gannel and back again at high tide covering 1.74 miles in aid of Newquay RNLI Lifeboats, Crantock Rowing Club and Newquay Food Bank. He set off from the Fern Pit Café in his own little punt and was given support throughout the challenge by a small flotilla from Crantock Rowing Club.

The fundraiser came about after Dylan asked his mother if he could raise money for charities in Newquay.

Dylan, who is no stranger to being on the water, decided to do a sponsored row alone as he comes from a family of fisherman and rowers.

The youngster, whose great grandad George Northey and great uncle Gerald Northey were former volunteers at Newquay Lifeboat Station, and dad Ross and uncle Matt are part of the current lifeboat crew, meant he was determined to raise some money to help the charity out.

Mr Ross brought his son down to Newquay Lifeboat Station during a Sunday morning exercise to hand over the £500 donation. Boat and shore crew were delighted to see Dylan and gave him a rapturous round of applause when he handed the cash over to Gareth Horner, the lifeboat operations manager.

Dylan also got creative and designed a special cheque which is now proudly on display in the crew room at the lifeboat station. When asked why he wanted to raise money for the RNLI Dylan simply replied: “Because they help people.”

Mr Horner said: ‘Sunday was a very happy occasion, and it was clear how proud Ross and uncle Matt were of Dylan. In the current climate any fundraising is difficult so to raise £1,500 is a credit to Dylans determination, he is one special boy, and we look forward to the day when he is old enough to follow in his dad’s footsteps and join the lifeboat crew.

“Well done Dylan and a huge thank you from everyone at Newquay Lifeboat Station.”