THE grandfather of tragic schoolgirl Lelaina Hall is urging Worcester residents to back a life-saving appeal.

Terry Page says their help is urgently needed to pay for a hovercraft, which will be named after the five-year-old to keep her memory alive.

The Western Daily Press has launched a campaign to fund the vessel, which could have saved her life. Thousands of pounds have already poured in.

"It's been in the local paper every day," said Mr Page, who lives in Wiltshire.

"Hundreds of people have donated to it. They've made a big issue of it to stop it happening again.

"A lot of people in Worcester knew Lelaina but they don't know how to make a donation."

The Western Daily Press has joined forces with the Association of Search and Rescue Hovercraft to raise £35,000 needed to buy and equip a BBV6 hovercraft.

It would be based at Bridgwater Bay, close to Berrow Beach where Lelaina died on Sunday, June 23.

She had become trapped in mud flats after running on to the beach on the final day of a family seaside holiday.

"The hovercraft would have got to her in five minutes," said Mr Page.

"Instead, it took an hour.

"None of us are coping very well.

"Caroline, Lelaina's mother, is living with me because she can't go home due to the emotion of it all.

"There are all sorts of issues surrounding the beach, such as notices, but this is the main focus.

Memory

"The hovercraft will be called Lelaina in her memory. At least something good will have come out of her death.

"They are dangerous beaches and it's made me more aware of the dangers."

The fund currently stands at £9,000.

"It's going very well," said Ellie Campbell, news editor at the Western Daily Press, in Bristol.

"People obviously feel very strongly about it to give this much in one week."

To make a donation to the fund call 0117 934 3434 or send a cheque to The Lelaina Hovercraft Fund, Western Daily Press, Temple Way, Bristol BS99 7HD.

Cheques should be made payable to the Association of Search and Rescue Hovercraft.