A cadet from Hannington has smashed her fundraising target, raising more than five times the amount she expected to for charity.

Anna Talbert, 16, originally hoped to raise £200 for the Cleft Lip & Palate Association (CLAPA).

However she succeeded in blowing this out of the water, securing over £1,000 for the charity.

"I think I actually cried when I realised the amount we had raised, said Anna.

"It was just amazing really."

Corporal Talbert, with the 878 Highworth Squadron, hosted a bake sale on July 14 at Hannington Village Hall to raise the funds.

She also set up a JustGiving page, which generated £400 for the cause.

"I was so surprised because I didn’t think many people knew about the charity and what it meant to me.

"I'm really overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone who came and donated," she added.

Anna held the bake sale after completing her GCSEs this summer.

"I've just finished my exams, and I wanted to do something useful with my summer, so I decided to do a fundraising event for charity.

"Ideally just a little one," added Anna.

The cause is close to her heart, having been born with a cleft palate herself.

"I wanted to give something back to the charity that helped me," she said,

The charity supports those who have a cleft palate and/or cleft lip.

In early pregnancy, the different parts of a baby’s face develop separately and then join together.

When this doesn't happen as it should, the baby can be left with a gap in the roof of the mouth which is a cleft palate, or a cleft lip which can range from a little notch in the coloured part of the lip to a complete separation of the upper lip extending up into the nose.

It is not known what causes the condition.

Among other things, the charity provides specialised feeding equipment for babies, and when Anna was ten, organised a residential activities trip for her to Devon.

"The charity is a great way to meet other people with the same condition and hear more about what to expect in the future," Anna added.

"The condition only affects one in 700 people, so not many, and it can be hard to find someone to talk to who is also affected.

"There can be some difficult decisions to make about surgery as you get older.

"Obviously your parents understand but they can’t empathise with you, so it's great to have that network of people to talk to," said Anna.

The bake sale attracted roughly 60 people, who purchased cakes as well as donating to the cause.

Anna, who wants to go into the RAF, also sold cakes through the cadets which she has been part of for the last three and a half years.

Following her success, Anna's fundraising events could well become a permanent fixture.

"I am considering doing a yearly fundraiser for CLAPA because they are such a great charity," she added.