SHE may be only 11 months old, but little Darcie Shields has already begun to help cancer sufferers like her grandmother, by donating gifts from her christening to charity.

Darcie's grandmother, Cathy Thatcher, 56, of Ashfield Road, Chippenham, learned she had cancer last Christmas and in February lost a breast to the disease.

Now recovering, Mrs Thatcher said she was deeply moved when Darcie's parents, , decided to ask for money instead of gifts for their daughter's christening, and give it all to Bath's Royal United Hospital, where she was treated.

"Samantha thought this would be an excellent way of saying thank you to the staff for the high level of care I received," said Mrs Thatcher, who last Wednesday went with Darcie to present £250 to the hospital.

"It gives me a great deal of satisfaction to know that Darcie's gifts will help other cancer sufferers."