Teenage go-kart champ Daniel Gale has raised thousands of pounds for charity by doing what he does best.

The 13-year-old from Wigmore completed 500 laps of his local race circuit and by the time he reached the finishing line had ramped up about £2,500 for Demleza children’s hospice.

Daniel has been racing since he was eight and is currently in Belgium practising for the European Championships. In recent months has been competing in Italy where he has impressed specialist mechanics.

Daniel has always been passionate about the charity which cares for desperately sick youngsters at its centre in Bobbing.

Staff at the Bayford Meadows track near Sittingbourne allocated Daniel five-and-a-half hours to complete the challenge, but he managed to finish in just four hours and 35 minutes.

Daniel has been collecting bucket donations at Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre and family and friends, including musician Jools Holland, have also chipped in.

Dad John Gale, of Maidstone Road, said: “When he was very young he saw a sign for the hospice and asked what it was. When I told him it was a place where children go to die he was very upset.”

From that moment the Howard School pupil vowed to support Demelza especially if he fulfils his ambition to become a professional racer.

So far this year he has won five out of six races with lap records at Buckmore Park , Bayfield and the Lydd circuit.

Daniel is preparing to make the transition from go-karts to racing cars and will soon be embarking on the Ginetta Academy course.

The G40 Junior is the ideal first step for 14- to 17-year-olds switching from karting to cars. It has become one of the most well-known models at the British Touring Car Championship weekend.

Ginetta Junior graduates have gone on to secure international success with many competing in GT, Touring Cars and Prototype championships across the world.