Boy, five, cashes in on Newton Poppleford road closure for good cause

A burst water main has caused frustration for drivers backed up a traffic jam in Newton Poppleford – but a quick-thinking five-year-old saw it as an opportunity to raise some money.

Year one pupil James Henderson was set to sell cakes at the primary school to boost its library until a burst water main this morning (Thursday) forced the closure of the campus.

Instead he decided to sell goodies baked by his nan Yvonne outside her High Street home to the stationary motorists to help his Sunday school buy a goat for an African family.

James’ mum, Suzanne, said: “It was all his idea. He was getting a lot of waves and a lot of people asking for cakes. He sold out completely and raised £12.

“He was really excited and proud of himself. He was enjoying counting all of the coins.”

The Capper Close resident has been attending the Sunday school at St Luke’s Church for a couple of months. It is raising money for a male and a female goat to offer sustainable help to an African family.

Three-way temporary traffic lights have been put in place on the A3052 and there are still long queues in both directions.

Many villagers are without water or have no pressure but engineers are on site and aim to have it restored by 2pm.