A KIND-HEARTED schoolgirl has raised funds for a new Worcester hospice after learning that it was specifically for youngsters.

Marianne Johnson, aged nine, has been collecting cash and handing it over to good causes since she was six years old.

"If she has any pocket money lying about she puts that in the pot," said her grandmother, Audrey Dalley.

"She had already done a lot of fund-raising and we were talking about the new Acorns Hospice as a charity day was being held at BBC Hereford & Worcester to raise money for it. That is when she decided to raise funds for the new hospice.

"Marianne asked us what we were talking about, we told her and she said that, as it was for children and she was a child, she should be raising money for the charity.

"At home, we can't leave any money lying around. If we do it goes into her charity collections.

"We're very proud of her and I think that for a child to consider other people the way she does is wonderful.

"She will even help people cross the street. It's just the way she has been brought up."

Mrs Dalley said that Marianne, from Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, began fund-raising after she knocked over a bowl of pot pourri and asked her family to guess the number of leaves in it.

"She made us all pay 10p to guess and she kept on making us guess and pay 10p until we got it right." she said.

Cheryl Lee, Press officer for Acorns Three Counties Appeal, said the charity was "delighted" with Marianne's donation, which was about £11 in one and two pence coins.

"She has obviously worked very hard to collect the money and it's lovely to see young people wanting to help with our appeal to build the new children's hospice," she said.

Smartie work by the Cubs

WORCESTER youngsters have been drumming up money for charity after packing as many items as possible into a small box of Smarties.

Blue pack Cubs of 1st Worcester Scout Group has been getting sponsorship for each item to raise money for Acorns.

The items are currently being counted, but the cubs look set to raise around £180.