A MALVERN woman who is raising funds for seriously ill children has beaten the target she set by nearly £3,000.

Maureen Edwards, a retired teacher, needed to raise a minimum £2,750 in sponsorship to take part in a trek along China's Three Gorges.

The task was made harder when the trip date was moved forward from October to May, as the area the trekkers are to walk along is due to be flooded as part of a gigantic hydro-electric power scheme.

However, a spring fair on Saturday in St Andrew's Church Hall, Poolbrook raised £510, meaning she has now raised around £5,500.

All the money is going to Acorns Children's Hospice.

Miss Edwards said she was very grateful to all the people who helped run the event and all the Malvern businesses who donated tombola prizes.

"It was brilliant - we raised much more than we'd hoped for," she said.