A CRAFTY schoolboy has spent three months meticulously creating 50 wooden reindeer toys to sell this weekend.

George Chapman, 15, took on the task in August to raise funds for his World Challenge trip to Ecuador next July.

He is hoping to raise £1,000 from selling the reindeer sculptures.

George will be going into the mountain villages of Ecuador as part of a team of students from Southend High School to help with the regeneration of schools, maintaining trek trails and encouraging sustainable income sources for the communities.

Each student has to fundraise the money to cover the cost of the trip, and George wanted to take on a unique challenge to raise some of the money.

His mum Sally Chapman said: “The students have a range of options for fundraising the money for World Challenge, many normal ways include washing cars and gardening and such.

“But George wanted to do something a bit different. He is very much an outdoorsy boy. He’s really into his bush craft and exploring the forests.

“We were out once and saw a similar reindeer sculpture on sale, and he turned to me and said ‘I can do that, let’s give it a go’.”

George, of Folly Chase, Hockley, began his mission to make 50 reindeer in August. He will be selling them at £20 each, and already has pre-orders secured for 27 of them.

Mrs Chapman added: “When George set out to make them he was very confident he could do it. He knew he needed a lot of time, but I think he’s found it considerably harder than first thought.

“It’s taken up a lot of time but he’s finally got all of them done. What people should know is that these aren’t the same as the glossy, simple and smaller reindeers you can buy. Each is very different, alternative and rustic for a Christmas decoration.”

Email chapmansh@hotmail.com