Zane with his three-year-old sister Mia

SCHOOLBOY Zane Smith invited 1,000 hungry children to share his birthday.

Zane, aged nine, of Napsbury Park, London Colney, decided he would prefer to go without his birthday presents this year and instead donate the money to the World Food Programme (WFP).

By sacrificing his presents he has managed to raise £165 which is enough to feed 1,000 children in the developing world.

His mother Zara Belmar said: "He found WFP's website while surfing the net. He was so struck by the plight of other children that he decided he had to do something to help."

Zane, who is a pupil at Killigrew School in St Albans, said: "I don't mind about birthday presents this year. I always get special presents so this year I want to make a difference for others."

WFP provides 20 million children in 70 countries with nutritious school meals. A donation of 14 pence pays for one child's school meal.