A YOUNG fundraiser has been praised as “inspirational” by TV presenter Lorraine Kelly ahead of an appearance on her show.

Alfie McAnespie, nine, shot to fame when he became the youngest Help for Heroes fundraiser aged just one.

He raised £1,000 for the soldiers’ charity by walking one mile unaided and was name-checked by Prince Harry and then-PM Gordon Brown.

Earlier this year, the Montgomery Primary School pupil climbed Mount Snowdon in a bid to raise £6,000 for a former Para's wheelchair.

Although he did not reach the target, soldiers’ charity Support Our Paras stepped in and made sure the funds were available to pay for the wheelchair.

Alfie - whose dad Lee is a 3 Para officer based at Colchester Garrison - was invited onto the Lorraine set to tell her about his future fundraising plans.

In a newspaper column, she told readers Alfie “has a heart as big as a lion”.

She added: “Right now, Alfie is planning a trip to Mount Kilimanjaro to raise more money for Help For Heroes to help wounded ex servicemen and women, and their families who have been injured in body and mind.

“He’s an incredible young boy who just wants to come to the aid of others and make the world a kinder and better place.

"He is inspirational and he gives us all hope for the future.”

“Young people are often demonised and criticised for being selfish and lazy and always having their heads stuck in their iPhones and iPads, but Alfie shows that there are also a lot of good kids in the world."