A schoolboy became an unlikely social media sensation after agreeing to do a week’s work at his mum’s company to prove he could do it.

Lewis Kent manned the phones trying to make appointments for his mother Amanda’s photocopier and printer business Certa MPS in Brewer Street.

The 13-year-old had questioned how hard it could be to work in a call centre after the company sacked an employee who was failing to make the grade.

The Maidstone-based firm did not expect the huge response it received after posting a picture of Lewis at his desk on professional network LinkedIn.

Within a week the post had been seen nearly 1.7 million times, been given nearly 10,000 likes and attracted more than 400 comments from people supporting his efforts.

Two weeks later, it has doubled to 3.5 million views around the world, 18,500 likes and 700 comments.

Lewis, a pupil at Abbey School in Faversham, took the social media interest in his stride. During the week he made six appointments, with many sales people not making their first appointment until they are a month into the job.

“There’s a feeling that young people think the world owes them a favour but I don’t think that’s the case..." = Amanda Kent, Lewis' mum

He said he enjoyed the week, adding: “When you call someone you say ‘you would be doing me a favour’ and you are friends for the short amount of time you are on the phone.”

Mrs Kent, who lives near Sittingbourne, said: “There’s a feeling that young people think the world owes them a favour but I don’t think that’s the case.

“There are youngsters who use their initiative.

“Lewis made his own script up and adapted it very well. We got one quote from a client who said ‘I’m just about to buy a printer, so I’d rather buy it from Lewis’.”

The work also paid off for Lewis in another way. While he did not receive a wage, his mum bought him a watch as a thank-you.