THE eight-year-old son of a charity fundraiser from Salisbury is following in his mother’s footsteps, organising a children’s bring and buy sale for this year’s mayor’s appeal.

When Jonathan Baker told his mother, Linda, he wanted to organise an event for himself she told him that if he organised it, she would book a hall for him.

“He wanted to do something himself, and I thought he was just saying that, so I set him a challenge over the holidays,” she explained.

But when he came back to her with posters, plans and a solid idea, she went ahead and booked Harnham Church Hall for October 26 as promised.

“He came up with the swap shop and we just guided him,” said Mrs Baker, who is chairman of the mayor’s appeal for Children’s Chance.

“We said you can’t really do a swap shop and raise money, but if you did it for a bring and buy, you could. He sat down with his list of family and he’s allocated them all jobs to do.”

Jonathan isn’t the only one of Mrs Baker’s children who is involved with the appeal, as her eldest son Christopher, 15, is the mayoral Scout for this year.

“I am proud of all my boys,” said Mrs Baker. “It’s suddenly become very much a family thing now. I suppose because Christopher and I are involved, the others wanted to and Jonathan wanted to do his bit.”

As well as the bring and buy sale, Jonathan has also organised a table tennis competition to challenge a professional and a raffle solely for children, with prizes of sweets and other goodies.

Mayor Bobbie Chettleburgh said: “This is a lovely idea and it’s brilliant such a young man is showing such determination. My appeal this year is Children’s Chance and the fact a young child is so actively involved in fundraising is excellent.”

The event will be held from 2pm to 5pm.