An army-mad young saxophonist from Kirkby Lonsdale is planning his next fundraising campaign after smashing his latest target.

Louis Hoskin, 8, a pupil at Sedbergh Prep School at Casterton, has raised over £8,000 since the start of the summer holiday for the Ancre Somme Association, a charity that honours fallen servicemen, women, and animals.

The charity also helps those suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Louis' father, Philip Hoskin, a teacher at Sedbergh Prep School, said:"Helping those struggling with PTSD is a cause very dear to us.

"There are so many servicemen and women who have gone completely off the rails - it can lead them to prison or on the streets after an exemplary career, and you can pretty much trace it all back to PTSD."

Louis was inspired to take up the cause when he met Colin MacLachlan, formerly of 22 SAS and the Patron of the Ancre Somme Association, and Louis made a promise to try to support and honour British soldiers however he could.

The Westmorland Gazette: HEROES: Louis alongside the John McAleese memorial (left), and with Colin MacLachlan, patron of Ancre SommeHEROES: Louis alongside the John McAleese memorial (left), and with Colin MacLachlan, patron of Ancre Somme

"Louis has been working on his saxophone for the last year or so, and that's going to play a big part in future fundraising endeavours."

Louis recently serenaded the public in Kirkby Lonsdale with his saxophone, raising £1,012, and this has driven the pair to undertake another long-term project, according to Philip:

"On the back of the success he had with the saxophone in Kirkby Lonsdale last Saturday, when the locals and visitors could not have been more supportive, top of our hit-list now is to support veterans in our locality.

The Westmorland Gazette: TRIBUTE: Louis alongside the memorial at Sedbergh School, and Louis with Kingsman Jack Plant and Lt Col. Justin TancrelTRIBUTE: Louis alongside the memorial at Sedbergh School, and Louis with Kingsman Jack Plant and Lt Col. Justin Tancrel

"I'm hoping that in the coming year we will raise the money for a memorial bench in Kirkby Lonsdale, either to support an individual veteran, or all of the veterans of Kirby Lonsdale that paid the ultimate price for us.

"One of the plans going forward is a project we're calling 'Cairn we do it, yes we cairn", where Louis will tick off as many mountain cairns as he can in Scotland, playing a tune on his sax at each.

"The aim of that is to raise funds for a memorial to David Penman, regarded as one of the SAS' finest climbers.

"Honouring our fallen heroes is vital for inspiring the next generation of champions to scale the same dizzy heights."

To donate, visit Louis' JustGiving page online.