LITTLE monkey Leigh Freeman has put his acrobatic skills to good use to help old soldiers.

For the past three years the six-year-old has clambered along a twisting rope ladder in Alton Towers to win a giant soft toy.

But rather than keep it for himself, he has decided to give the giant meerkat to the Coleford Poppy Appeal.

Proud mum Sonia says the Coalway Infants' School pupil loves playing with his soldiers and was determined it should go to help them.

"Every year we go to Alton Towers and Leigh wins a very, very large teddy," she said.

"He has to go across this moving ladder without falling off, which is virtually impossible.

"Nobody knows how he does it – you have grown men trying for ages to win a teddy and not being able to do it.

"But he just seems to have the knack. He is quite sporty and this year he had about 20 adults underneath screaming as he did it."

It was when the family were moving to Milkwall that Leigh came up with the idea of donating the meerkat to the Poppy Appeal.

Chairman of the Coleford branch of the Royal British Legion Paul McMahon told Leigh about how the Legion raises money for veterans.

Leigh said: They've helped us so we need to help them."

Mum Donia added: "He's always playing with toy soldiers and jeeps. He's always saying he wants to join the Army when he leaves school and told us he wanted to give the teddy to the Army men.

"That's the kind of boy he is. He's already given a giant parrot and polar bear away. He's really pleased and excited about the whole thing."

The meerkat will have pride of place in Coleford's first Poppy Shop in the town centre clocktower to be officially opened by mayor Sue Merrikin at 10am on Saturday. Sealed bids will be invited for the toy and the highest bidder will be announced on November 19.