FOUR teenage girls are being handcuffed together for the day to raise money for Hammer Out, the charity set up to raise funds for research into brain tumours.

Stephanie Chandler, 15, her cousin Leah Chandler, 15, Jodie Brown, 16, and Sarah Mundy, 15, were inspired to raise money after reading about Charlotte Wakeham, the eight-year-old girl who died after battling a rare brain tumour, and after Stephanie's uncle, John Billet, of Potterne, died from a brain tumour.

The girls will be handcuffed in pairs today at Lavington School.

Stephanie, from Potterne, was amazed at the support from other pupils and staff.

She said: "The response has been outstanding. So far we have got more than 200 people pledging to sponsor us for £352 which is a lot more than we expected."

Stephanie said losing her 47-year-old uncle last month was devastating. She also said she and her friends had been touched by the plight of Charlotte Wakeham. "We were following the stories in the Gazette about Charlotte and we were all really sad to hear of her death.

"Brain tumours are scary. I want to raise money for a charity that helps those with brain tumours."