A HORSFORTH schoolboy is preparing for a sponsored swim to honour soldiers who lost their lives in WW1.

Ethan Wright, whose own great grandfather died in the conflict, is planning a swim to raise £400 to light Horsforth Cenotaph over the next few years.

Ethan, 15, who recently played an underage soldier in a Horsforth School production, said: "Lots of swimmers from our school raised money for the lighting of the Cenotaph and I now want to raise enough to pay for the electricity needed - so I am looking for sponsors for my swim on November 8.

"I enjoyed being in the play and was honoured to lay a wreath at the Menin Gate during our battlefields trip. I’m proud to be involved in activities that help us to remember the soldiers, some of them just young lads like me with all their lives before them."

Susan Watson a volunteer at Horsforth Museum and the secretary of Horsforth WW1 100 Years project added: "I want to commend Ethan for his efforts - it's great to see him making time for this as he also prepares for his GCSE exams. I hope that lots of people will sponsor him so that we can light up the Cenotaph as a fitting tribute. I understand that Ethan is an excellent swimmer who has recently been appointed captain of his school team so hopefully he will get lots of support from the wider Horsforth community."

The Horsforth branch of the Royal British Legion has campaigned for years to light up the war memorial. To support Ethan search Ethan Wright at www.justgiving.com or take a cash donation to Horsforth Museum marked 'Ethan Sponsored Swim'.