CHRISTINE Rose-Williams and a host of friends and pub regulars boosted the Lydia Cross Appeal by another £1,000 this week.

Mrs Williams, of Sutton Benger, ran the Reading Half Marathon on March 7 and her friends at the Langley Tap pub in Langley Burrell were the first of many volunteers to help in her quest to raise as much money as possible for the plucky three-year-old.

"Whilst the fund-raising started with friends and regulars at the Langley Tap, the New Inn at Seagry also joined in. Some people even took sponsorship forms to work and to other places and, rather like a chain letter, it snowballed," said Mrs Williams.

"The main fund-raisers who were personally responsible for co-ordinating more than £560 of the total were Joe Royle and his daughter Emma Archer. Emma works at Dolby in Wootton Bassett and secured corporate sponsorship in addition to sponsorship from colleagues."

Using bleepers to swell the coffers, regulars at the Langley Tap contributed to a swear box to raise money and the numerous damn! and blasts resulted in an impressive £208.

"The licensees of the Langley Tap, Simon and Gillian Pakeman, have been wonderful, and also made a personal contribution," said Mrs Williams.

"While the New Inn at Seagry raised £117, Wiltshire Highways Department, of Chippenham, raised £35, The White Hart at Lyneham gave £56.25, The Mermaid at Christian Malford gave £60 and Transtaff Recruitment Ltd of Swindon, gave £76.50.

"On top of this, I was also given £80 by friends and family I am personally very proud to be associated with such generous people."

Lydia Cross, of Chippenham, had to have both her legs amputated below the knee in December, after contracting septicaemia brought on by the HIB virus.

The Gazette's Lydia Cross Appeal, which now stands at more than £11,000, has attracted donations and fantastic fund-raising efforts from across Wiltshire.

All proceeds will go towards meeting the £12,000 annual cost of Lydia's prosthetic legs.

Mrs Rose-Williams said: "I read about Lydia in the Gazette and her story really touched me, as I know it did a lot of people.

"I wasn't going to run the half marathon for sponsorship, but we came up with the idea of asking the other regulars to donate money as a kind of informal sponsorship and it's just snowballed.

Mrs Pakeman, of the Langley Tap, added: "We have some really colourful language around here sometimes and we thought it would be a wonderful way to raise some cash and teach them a lesson."

Volunteers are also wanted to take part in a sponsored Firewalk for the Lydia Appeal, which is taking place at The Mill House pub on Bath Road, Chippenham, on June 4. Teams or individuals can take part and registration and sponsor forms are available form the pub now.

People wishing to send cheques to our appeal should make them payable to the Lydia Cross Appeal and send them to the Gazette & Herald, 14 Market Place, Devizes, SN10 1HT.

You can also donate direct into Lydia's Appeal bank account at Lloyds, the High Street, Chippenham. Quote Lydia Cross Appeal, account number 03091761, sort code 30-91-99. If you are planning to raise money for the appeal through fund-raising contact Debbie Waite on (01249) 654422 or e-mail dwaite@newswilts.co.uk