Oliver Shield, 10, a pupil at Millfield Primary School, North Walsham, has been wearing shorts to school for the last year. PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

A youngster has been braving the snow and ice in a bid to complete his challenge of wearing shorts to school every single day for a year.

Oliver Shield, 10, a pupil at Millfield Primary School, North Walsham, has been wearing his shorts and ankle socks to school continually since last February.

At first he took on the short-a-thon as a personal challenge and then a friend suggested that he raise money for charity so he chose Diabetes UK because his cousin, Naomi Clement, 21, and a friend both suffer from the disease.

And despite the sharp drop in temperatures recently, and arrival of snow, he has vowed to continue, make it to the year mark and carry on until he leaves Millfield in July.

His mum, Sarah Hunter, 48, from Long Barrow Drive, North Walsham, said her son was “quite a tough nut.”

She added: “10-year-old boys don’t seem to feel the cold like we do. It saves money on buying trousers and then finding Ollie’s gone through the knees! He likes to do different things and stand out from the crowd.”

Oliver, who plays rugby, walks from Victory Swim and Fitness Centre, in Station Road, to the school, which is in Recreation Road.

He said: “It’s OK, but your legs go numb after five minutes. I went for a snowball fight with my class and I skidded over and cut my knees.

“My friends think I’m mad for wearing shorts in winter and I tell them they’re mad for wearing trousers in summer.”

As well as his shorts, which are part of the school uniform, he also wears a school jumper, coat socks and hat.

So far Oliver has raised £150 with more sponsor money coming in. He hopes to reach at least £250. Anyone who would like to donate can do so via the Just Giving page,www.justgiving.com/Sarah-Hunter6