A KIND-HEARTED schoolboy who spread festive cheer by collecting more than 200 bags of food for charity has been shortlisted for a national award.

For the last three years, Archie Strang has visited neighbouring streets in Tranent and asked for donations to the East Lothian Foodbank.

The charity, which is based in the town, delivers food parcels to people in crisis, and Archie has collected more than a third of a tonne for the good cause.

Now, the 12-year-old is one of three youngsters from across the country in the running for the community category at the Young Scot Awards, which will take place in Edinburgh in September.

Proud dad Raymond told the Courier: “From a personal point of view, I think he has done really well. He has got to consider it an achievement to be nominated for the award.

“It is based upon something that was his own initiative, his own idea, and he has taken the whole thing forward himself.

“He has had support from his friend Lucas Leishman the last two years and his brother, Finlay, and I imagine all three will still go ahead this Christmas with something similar.

“Archie has been the driving force; it has been off his own back and good for him.”

The Sanderson’s Wynd Primary School pupil began the scheme when he was in P5 in 2016.

Joined by his friend Lucas, he delivered a handwritten letter to dozens of homes in the Bankpark area of the town.

The first year saw more than 30 bags of goodies handed over to the youngsters, with that figure more than doubling in 2018.

However, last year was to prove the most successful, with residents in Tranent’s New Row, Edinburgh Road, Market View, Polson Gardens, Bankpark Crescent and Bankpark Grove all being asked to support the now annual appeal.

More than 100 shopping bags were delivered to Tranent Library before being passed on to the foodbank, which is based at nearby Civic Square.

In total, last year’s collection came in at 453 kilogrammes – more than a third of a tonne.

Raymond said the initiative had “grown arms and legs”, with people coming forward asking to be included in any collection.

Lucy Daniels, outreach manager at the East Lothian Foodbank, described Archie being shortlisted for the award as “amazing and well-deserved”.

She said: “Archie’s continued support helped inspire us at a very busy time.

“His enthusiasm and commitment to his local community at such a young age means this award would be well deserved.”

Now, the youngster, who is also an accomplished judoka, will go forward to the ceremony, which is due to take place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), on the Capital’s Morrison Street, on September 7. Winners will be selected by a judging panel, with more than 40 people up for awards in categories such as sport, enterprise, young hero and volunteering.