Lewis Whele presents Captain Tom with Pride of Britain Award

Lewis Whele, from Coggeshall, has cerebral palsy and needed walking sticks to get about after a major operation.

He had started two years of physio to help him walk again, but that stopped because of the coronavirus lockdown.

So Lewis decided to follow in the footsteps of 100-year-old Captain Tom Moore, who famously completed 100 laps of his garden to raise an astonishing £32.8million for charity.

The five-year-old did ten laps a day for ten days dressed as his favourite superheroes - including Spider-Man, Thor, Harry Potter and the Hulk.

• Spider-man Lewis strides out in the garden with his walking sticks

The challenge was like a marathon for Lewis.

But his determination raised a whopping £3,000.

Mum Toni said: "Lewis raised £3,000 for Masks For NHS Heroes for those that couldn't get hold of PPE.

"He'd just had an operation and needed walking sticks. He was doing physio three times a week before lockdown so we were trying to get him to practise his walking."

• Captain Tom Moore

Lewis and two other brave lockdown youngsters were invited to Captain Tom's home to present the plucky pensioner with a Pride of Britain Award.

Captain Tom's favourite singer - opera star Katherine Jenkins - was also at the presentation which was filmed for TV.

Toni said: "It was really lovely. Lewis had such a good day and it was great to meet Captain Tom.

"The children all got a medal of their own and one of Captain Tom's signed books.

"He has a lovely family."

Lewis is now making good progress with his rehab.

His mum said: "He is back at physio and is meeting lots of milestones, going up and down the stairs and walking without his sticks."

• Superhero - Lewis as Thor

Toni added: "We were absolutely thrilled to be part of Captain Tom's big day. He's a legend."

The Pride of Britain Awards are on ITV this Sunday (November 1) at 9pm.