A FIVE-year-old boy stayed in a den under his bed for five hours to raise funds for the NHS.

Billy Rockingham, from Poole, came up with the idea after joining his family each Thursday to clap for heroes on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Wanting to help nurses to fight "the bug" - the name he has given to coronavirus - the other factor that inspired him was his auntie being a nurse at Poole Hospital, which he can see from his home.

Initially, he wanted to spend 24 hours in the den after seeing people stay in a Lamborghini car, but his parents convinced him to do five hours instead.

Parents Lee and Maria Rockingham said in a statement: "We convinced him that 24 hours was a long time and that he should do 5 hours - one hour for each year.

"He prepared things to keep him entertained like games and toys, and we made him a backpack full of snacks.

"Billy played with his toys. We played games on his [Nintendo] Switch and he watched a film whilst in his den."

He took on the lockdown challenge from 12pm to 5pm on Friday.

The youngster has since raised £235 for the NHS in sponsorship from friends and family.

His parents added: "We are so proud of him for thinking of others and wanting to do something to help the fight against Covid-19.

"He is such a kind, considerate little boy and it has really showed in completing this."

It comes as the government warned people to stay at home unless they need to buy food or essentials, care for the vulnerable, essential travel to and from work and for one form of exercise a day.