AN 11-year-old chimney sweep whose death led to a change in Victorian child labour laws is to become the youngest Briton to be honoured with an official blue plaque.

George Brewster became the last “climbing boy” to die in England after he got stuck in a flue at the County Pauper Lunatic Asylum in Fulbourn near Cambridge.

An Act of Parliament banning the use of climbing boys was passed seven months later in September 1875 after the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury vowed to renew attempts to change the law.

Joanna Hudson, who uncovered George’s contribution to child employment laws after stumbling across a mention of him in 2019, said: “Every child should know this boy’s name, as he represents the countless children who were victims of greed and cruelty in the Victorian era, exploited by those who valued profit over their welfare.”

The blue plaque commemorating George’s life will be unveiled on February 11, the 150th anniversary of his death.