5-year-old vegan activist inspires Britain's oldest shoe store to sell its first vegan shoes

A 5-year-old vegan activist inspires Britain's oldest independent shoe store to sell its first-ever vegan shoes.

Harry Bidewell, who has been described as 'the UK's youngest vegan activist', motivated a 230-year-old footwear business to place an order for its first vegan school shoes last year.

The young campaigner from Maidstone, who has been vegan for just over a year now, visited The Golden Boot with his Dad to purchase his first ever pair of school shoes schools when, much to the store's surprise, he asked if they were made from animal products.

Harry's Dad, Mark Bidewell, said: "I have been going to the Golden Boot for years - it's amazing - the oldest independent shoe shop in the UK!

"We went in to get Harry's feet measured for school and Harry asked the man assisting us if the shoes were vegan.

"He responded, a bit baffled, and said 'I'm really sorry we don't do vegan school shoes, these are made from leather.'

"We asked if he could source a pair for us, he could've very easily said no but he didn't - the manager subsequently invested a lot of time and effort and ordered some vegan shoes in for us.

"They arrived just in time for school and embody everything Harry stands for - protecting animals, the planet and the high street by supporting local and independent stores and a like-minded family business."