A brave young cadet with autism who also suffers from sea sickness is facing his fear of the water as he aims to take on a trip around the coast of Britain.

Philip Caton, 15, from Bardfield in Vange, is raising £2,000 to take part in the Lord Dannatt’s Round Britain Challenge - a voyage of remembrance around the United Kingdom.

Philip’s mum Sam, 35, is expecting her son, who is a Basildon army cadet, to suffer with sea sickness on board the specially adapted tall ship during the trip from July to August next year, based on his past experiences crossing the channel to France.

Mrs Caton said: “I am going to be supplying him with motion sickness tablets as it is probably going to get very choppy at some point.”

She added that the opportunity is a chance for him to become more comfortable working in a team. She said: “He is really testing his boundaries. He has autism and he does find working with people very hard at times.

“He is such a lovely boy and I am going to be there for him if something goes wrong so it does not stress him out too much.

“It is going to be a fantastic opportunity for him and it will help him to come out of his shell.”

The Lord Dannatt’s Round Britain Challenge is part of the remembrance activities to mark the end of the First World War. A total of 48 injured soldiers and 96 cadets will sail together.

Mrs Caton said that the opportunity is one that Philip, who attends specialist Grove House School in Brentwood, is really looking forward to.

Mrs Caton said: “He really is looking forward to doing this. His birthday is on July 18 and a week later he will set off on the challenge. I am really proud of him.”