A WORCESTER family is urging the whole community to come together for a fund-raising day in memory of a five-year-old girl tragically killed in the river Avon earlier this year.

Gabby Grady was trapped in a submerged car for two hours, after it is alleged her father Chris Grady deliberately drove along Boat Lane, in Evesham and into the river with his daughter and six-year-old son Ryan inside.

Gabby was rescued by police divers on Thursday, February 11 and taken to Birmingham Children’s Hospital but died three days later.

Her brother Ryan was discharged the same day.

An event has now been organised to raise money for a memorial bench to be installed at Gabby’s grave in Astwood Cemetery, Worcester.

Mother Kim Wise is hoping the event at Ronkswood Community Centre, on Saturday, June 19, will raise the £700 needed to pay for the bench.

Any extra money will go to the Birmingham Children’s Hospital special care unit.

Miss Wise, aged 36, who has moved back to Worcester and is living with her brother in Ronkswood, is hoping the event will be a huge success.

She said: “It has been a difficult time, but I am getting by because I have had a lot of support from my family and I have a good, close network of friends.

“Ryan is settled now, living in Worcester, and is happy going to Perrywood School with all his cousins.

“It was my three sisters who came up with the idea to have a fund-raising day and it is good that the local community has come together to help out. It is a day dedicated to Gabby.”

Local shops and businesses have offered support for the event, which will include a bouncy castle, charity leg waxing and head shaving, as well as bric-a-brac, face painting and about 15 stalls.

Anyone interested in making donations, helping out on the day or providing raffle prizes should contact Julie Thomasson on 01905 359182. The event will run from 10am to 4pm.

l Christopher Grady remains in custody charged with the attempted murder of his children. The 41-year-old, of no fixed address, has been warned that he will eventually face a murder charge in relation to Gabby’s death.