CHILDREN dressed in red and green or in Christmas jumpers on Friday to boost a charity close to the hearts of everyone at a Calne school.

St Margaret’s Preparatory School has chosen Evie’s Gift as its charity of the year, to support a cause set up in memory of former pupil Evie Clover, by her parents, Bryan and Patsy.

Evie died in January aged just 13 after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.

Mr Cl,over, Evie's dad and chairman of Evie's Gift, said: "We are absolutely delighted that Evie's Gift has been chosen as St Margaret's charity for this year. Evie attended the school for eight years and loved every second of it. he school became a central part of our lives."

In May, the school opened an outdoor classroom named Evie’s Place. Now it has pledged to raise money to help facilitate financial help to parents whose children have been admitted to hospital with a life threatening or life limiting condition and to fund research into brain cancer.

There have already been some fundraising initiatives, but on Friday, the school held a whole fundraising day, where the pupils wore red, green or Christmas jumpers and a number of stalls and sideshows were set up to raise money.

In the evening, a carol service was held in the school chapel and a retiring collection was taken for the charity. So far a total of £1,400 has been raised from the two events.

Headmistress Karen Cordon said: "Evie was a very special girl who undoubtedly maximised her time at St Margaret’s. Her death was a terrible shock to the whole school community and we are very pleased to be able to support Evie’s Gift this year."

Mr Clover added: "Even after Evie left for senior school, it was St Margaret's that gave her the confidence and inner strength to strive for success. Evie may not be with us any longer, but her memory will live on through the work of Evie's Gift, and we hope to make a huge impact on the families that we help."