THE mother and grandmother of Charlotte Wakeham, who died in September after a 17-month battle against cancer, marked her ninth birthday last week quietly and sadly.

Wendy Bryant, from Victoria Road, Devizes, and her daughter Alison, Charlotte's mum, together toasted Charlotte's memory in champagne.

Ms Bryant said: "We toasted her bravery and her wonderful good humour and how marvellous she was all the time she was ill. We were going to plant a tree in her memory but we just couldn't cope with it."

A lasting memorial to Charlotte is the Charlotte's Chance of Life Fund, originally set up to send her to Disney World in Florida on what was thought to be her last holiday.

The fund continues and two events in aid of it take place this weekend.

The young singers of Starry Eyes perform at Melksham Labour Club on Friday night in aid of the fund. Doors open at 7pm.

On Saturday, also at the Labour Club, darts players from all over the county will compete for Charlotte's Cup. Registration begins at noon.