AS Christmas approaches most children’s attention is on which of the the latest toys and gadgets they will find in their stockings.

However, for one eight-year-old boy all he wanted to do was spend the £100 in pocket money he had saved up on food for the nearby animal rescue sanctuary.

Logan Elliott, together with some help from his five-year-old brother Cody, visited Tesco, in St Helen Auckland, with his parents on Christmas Eve and purchased as much dog food as they could.

The food was then passed on to Kays Hill Animal Sanctuary and to say thank you for the generous act, volunteers invited the brothers to meet and feed some of the animals at the weekend.

Logan said: “I saved up £100 because I wanted all the dogs to have some food. They are my favourite animals.”

His parents Ian and Amber Elliott decided to give money to animal sanctuaries instead of Christmas cards about three years ago but this is the first time the children said they want to do something themselves.

The family, from Bishop Auckland, have two dogs – Rye and Mimosa – and they hope one day to move to Mrs Elliott’s native America to open their own animal rescue centre.

Mr Elliott said: “It is a real family thing for us now. We have always tried to teach them about giving, not just getting. They really wanted to do this.

“I think next year we will buy food for some of the other animals as well as dogs.”

The two boys spent the morning at the West Auckland site on Saturday to see the animals – with a ginger cat proving the favourite.

Sanctuary volunteer Leanne Wensley, said: “It is absolutely fantastic that these bairns would want to do something like this.

“The fact they care enough about our animals to give up their pocket money really brings tears to my eyes. The food they have bought will make a huge difference. There is an awful lot of it. These bairns need to be so proud of themselves.”

The sanctuary has also received donations from a collection bin in Tesco store, where the boys also put their dog food.

Tesco community champion John Bailey said: “It is brilliant what these boys have done. At Tesco we try to help local organisations as much as we can and are looking at holding an animal foodbank in the future.”

Kays Hill Animal Sanctuary welcomes donations to help pay for anything towards caring for the animals.

To help, call 07960-087605.