While fellow pupils were struck down with the usual array of childhood illnesses, determined 14-year-old Max Allsopp has battled severe ezcema, colds and even a bout of flu to make it to school every day since starting at the age of four.

Max appeared in the Mail three years ago after he received a certificate from Ridgway Primary School recognising what was then seven years without a day off.

And, with his unblemished attendance record intact following three more years of schooling at Welland Park College, Max was once again presented with a certificate of achievement at their end of term assembly last week.

Max, of The Ridgeway, Harborough, said: “My friends don’t believe it. They just don’t believe I’ve never been sick. I don’t know how I’ve done it really.

“I think I went to school with the flu once. I think the closest I’ve been to taking a day off was when I had bad cold once.

“It’s not that I love school. Sometimes I’m poorly but I carry on.

“I just think there’s no point in me staying off. I’ve never felt like staying in bed.”

Max’s Mum Carol (45) said his two brothers, Ryan Peacock (27), Joshua (16) and sister India (11) had also rarely been ill but all had missed the odd day of school through illness or appointments with the doctor.

Max’s eczema tends to flare up during the summer months and is a constant irritation to him but Carol says he has not let it get him down.

She said: “I think he’s done really well and we’re all proud of him.

“He never wanted to go to school at first and with his skin condition it could have been easy for him to have days off but he’s always gone in.

“We don’t feed him anything different. I think he’s just always been strong. He’s not the sort of person to let a cold stop him.”

Max will be starting at Robert Smyth School in September, where he hopes his unusual record will continue.