CUMNOCK’S Kindness Kidd has been named as the youngest ever finalist for the Robert Burns Humanitarian Awards.

Mason Kidd, 12, carried out 18 acts of kindness last year in memory of his bother Ross who died of cancer aged two. Ross would have been 18 on December 1, 2017.

Since March last year, Mason has taken pizzas to the local fire station, doughnuts to police officers, left tennis balls in the park for dog walkers, and bought teddies for the babies at Ayrshire Maternity Neonatal Unit.

The Cumnock Academy pupil has been overwhelmed at the recognition he has received. Mason said: “I was so excited and honoured to be nominated for the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award and now to find out I’m one of three finalists is incredible.

“I hope to be able to make more people smile hearing about my Kidd Kindness Project. While doing my project I’ve been able learn more about amazing people who do amazing things like people who have previously been finalists for the Robert Burns Humanitarian Award.”

Mason’s 18th act of kindness saw him raise £10,000 for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

Parents, Alyson and Gary Kidd have been proud of their son throughout his project. They added: “We’re thrilled to find out Mason is a finalist for such an incredible award. Mason has worked so so hard throughout his Kidd Kindness Project.

“We watched on with pride as he touched so many people and marvelled at the pure joy he got from making so many different people, from all walks of life, happy with his acts of kindness. To see what Mason, at only 12, has done throughout his acts of kindness is wonderful for us, and because of social media, documenting these incredible acts, the word has spread and the happiness his project produced has made its way across the globe helping to bring more people that ‘Kidd Kindness Smile.’ Words cannot express how proud the whole family and community are.”

Unfortunately for Mason though, the winner was announced as Anna Ferrer who campaigns for women's and children's rights in India at a ceremony at Burns Cottage in Alloway last week.