A TELEVISION star has been named as the new ambassador of a Prestonpans founded children’s mental health project.

Jason Salkey, 59, best known for playing Harris in the Napoleonic Wars television series Sharpe, starring Sean Bean, is waving the flag for the county’s The Destiny Project SCIO.

The project was set up by Andrew Stevenson, Prestonpans Community Council vice-chairman.

The father-of-one got in contact with Jason about his book From Crimea with Love: Misadventures in the Making of Sharpe’s Rifles.

He said: “I was talking to him about the importance of child mental health and reducing the impact on child poverty.

“I explained to him the importance of the Destiny Project.

“Jason played Harris in Sharpe, one of my favourite characters who I fondly remember watching as a little boy, so I asked him if he would consider being an ambassador to our amazing little charity and he agreed.”

Mr Stevenson’s project provides support and advocacy for children and young people in East Lothian.

He added: “We have Wallyford in Bloom starting this spring and within this we have created a litter clean every first Saturday morning of the month, meeting at 10am at Wallyford train station, starting on March 5.

“We are eager to showcase the importance of dreaming big, inspiring others and achieving goals.

“We are always on the hunt for volunteers.

“We have started a young ambassador program designed to provide health knowledge to young people while providing a platform to share their views.”

Anyone interested in getting involved in the project can email andrewthedestiny project@gmail.com

The project is also on the lookout for business sponsors for the new In Bloom project.

Mr Stevenson added: “We aim to promote the benefits of an active, healthy lifestyle via new programmes under development.”