15249/1Friends of Sam Waters, the ten-year-old Devizes boy who lost his fight with cancer last September, have raised over £300 for a fund set up in his name.

Willem Collins, ten, his sister Maddie, nine, and Danny Charity and William Fisher, both aged ten, swam in Devizes Leisure Centre for an hour on Saturday afternoon to raise the sponsorship.

The children were joined by Willem and Maddie's grandfather, Lavington GP Dr Jonathan Miller, and the five swam a total of 222 lengths.

Willem and Maddie's mum, Alice, said: "It's a remarkable achievement for children of that age.

All the children were at Southbroom Infants' School together and Willem and Sam kept in contact after the Waters moved to Market Lavington.

Sam's mother, Susi Waters, added: "We never told Willem how serious Sam's condition was, so it came as a great shock to him when Sam died. The two of them used to swim together, so Willem thought it was a good idea to raise money for Sam's fund with a sponsored swim."

Mrs Waters and her husband, Howard, set up the fund in their son's memory to help children's causes in the Devizes area. The fund was given a £4,500 boost from Mrs Waters' former work colleague Chris Simkins and his daughter Bethan, who ran the Stroud half marathon for the fund.

Anyone wishing to raise money for Sam's Fund should contact Lewis Cowen in the Gazette office on (01380) 731692.