AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD from Test Valley has been shortlisted for the BBC Radio Solent Community Heroes Awards for feeding homeless people every Sunday.

Elle Holdaway could be crowned the winner in Young Achiever award on Friday, July 31, after a panel of judges chose her from a list of nominees sent in by the public.

The Halterworth Primary School pupil stood out from the crowd for giving those living on the Southampton's streets bread rolls, tomatoes and cookies alongside her mother Lisa since her seventh birthday.

The Young Achiever award can be given to anyone aged 18-years-old or under, which aims to celebrate "hard work" and how it makes communities "a better place", according to BBC Radio Solent.

Now Elle’s mother, Lisa, has claimed Elle is one of "three nominees" who could take home the gold.

Lisa said: "The winner will be announced on July 31, but there was supposed to be a big ceremony at Careys Manor Hotel [New Forest] on March 31, which they had to cancel because of lockdown.

"Now, they are going to hold the ceremony on the radio, so we will have to be on the phone, which is not easy with an eight-year-old.

"Elle is excited, but I don't think she understands how special that makes her.

"When I told her she was nominated Elle was delighted and almost amazed that anyone would have recognised her work."

The 44-year-old, who lives in Chilworth, added: "We found out through a phone call before lockdown Elle was one of the three nominees.

"We were delighted for her and it was lovely so many strangers had nominated her without us knowing."

When asked how Elle came up with her idea to feed homeless people every Sunday, Lisa said: "Elle started doing this after she saw a man sleeping in a doorway and she had lots of questions about why he was sleeping there, so I explained he did not have a house.

"A few weeks later it was her brother's birthday and we still had a half of a huge Costco cake left over, so Elle said 'we need to give it to homeless people' and from then on we have not stopped helping people."

Lisa said Elle is "not expecting to win", but if she does "she would be over the moon".

The winner of the Young Achiever award will be announced "shortly before midday", with the category featuring between 11.30am and 12pm, according to a spokesperson from BBC Radio Solent.

The BBC Radio Solent Community Heroes Awards will begin at 10am and is scheduled to finish by 2pm.