A father who couldn’t afford to buy his son a rucksack has become a hit - after he weaved one from blue string.

The five-year-old lad, named Ny Keng, stunned his classmates and teachers when he arrived for lessons sporting the makeshift backpack on June 17 in Batdambang, Cambodia.

His teacher Sophous Suon took a picture of the schoolboy proudly wearing his new bag which emotionally touched staff at the poverty-stricken school.

It emerged that Ny Keng had lost his own rucksack the previous day after coming home from a school trip.

His father, Thy Ny, was unable to afford a new bag so that night he weaved one by hand from blue raffia fibre string.

The resulting creation was finished complete with a front flap secured by a buckle and two shoulder straps.

It amazed staff at the Lumpath Primary School and the teacher’s praise for the caring father and his handmade rucksack were featured around the world.

Delighted teacher Sophous Suon said: ''His father is not rich, but he does everything for his children. There are many kids in Cambodia who cannot afford school supplies, good thing his father is more creative than other fathers.''

Sophous said that the boy lost his favorite bag during their trip to Thailand so his father made him a new one overnight so he will have something to carry his books to school the next morning.

He added: ‘’Money and material items are not the most important things in the world for children. Love and care are much more valuable and money cannot buy those.’’

The father, Thy Ny, said: ''I just did what I thought was good for my son. He needed a bag but we did not have the money to buy a new backpack for him.''

Thy Ny and the boy's mother, Pao Sorrya, are casual labourers who often travel to neighbouring Thailand as migrant workers.

A father who couldn’t afford to buy his son a rucksack has become a hit - after he weaved one from blue string.

The five-year-old lad, named Ny Keng, stunned his classmates and teachers when he arrived for lessons sporting the makeshift backpack on June 17 in Batdambang, Cambodia.

His teacher Sophous Suon took a picture of the schoolboy proudly wearing his new bag which emotionally touched staff at the poverty-stricken school.

It emerged that Ny Keng had lost his own rucksack the previous day after coming home from a school trip.

His father, Thy Ny, was unable to afford a new bag so that night he weaved one by hand from blue raffia fibre string.

The resulting creation was finished complete with a front flap secured by a buckle and two shoulder straps.

It amazed staff at the Lumpath Primary School and the teacher’s praise for the caring father and his handmade rucksack were featured around the world.

Delighted teacher Sophous Suon said: ‘’His father is not rich, but he does everything for his children. There are many kids in Cambodia who cannot afford school supplies, good thing his father is more creative than other fathers.’’

Sophous said that the boy lost his favorite bag during their trip to Thailand so his father made him a new one overnight so he will have something to carry his books to school the next morning.

He added: ‘’Money and material items are not the most important things in the world for children. Love and care are much more valuable and money cannot buy those.’’

The father, Thy Ny, said: ''I just did what I thought was good for my son. He needed a bag but we did not have the money to buy a new backpack for him.''

Thy Ny and the boy's mother, Pao Sorrya, are casual labourers who often travel to neighbouring Thailand as migrant workers.