THE family of Charlotte Wakeham are desperately hoping that an anti-depressant drug that has been proved to fight brain tumours can prolong the life of the seven-year-old schoolgirl.

The seven-year-old was due to take her first course of the drug, Chlorimipramine, last week. She is already undergoing radiotherapy at Bristol Children's Hospital to try to destroy an inoperable tumour in her brain stem that is slowly killing her.

Charlotte's grandmother, Wendy Bryant, of Victoria Road, Devizes, said: "She is going downhill fast.

"Her eyesight is now beginning to go but what is so frustrating is that she is otherwise so healthy. She hasn't got so much as a cold."

Chlorimipramine has long been known as an anti-depressant but recent research by cancer expert Professor Geoffrey Pilkington has shown that it is capable of destroying cancer cells and stimulating regeneration of brain tissue.

Trials on children were not due to start until February but the Samantha Dickson Research Trust, set up following the death of a young Hampshire girl from a similar brain stem tumour, managed to obtain a supply of the drug, which doctors at Bristol Children's Hospital have agreed to administer.

Mrs Bryant said: "It cost the trust about £1,200 so we sent them £1,000 from the money that has been donated to Charlotte over the past few weeks.

"It will take a few weeks before we know if there is any improvement or whether it was the radiotherapy or the drug that was responsible."

It is estimated that more than £6,000 has poured into the fund from all over the county. Trowbridge firefighters raised more than £1,000 from a sponsored car wash at the fire station on Saturday while Wroughton Karting Club raised more than £1,200 on a race night.

Mrs Bryant said: "The most touching thing is the response of other children. They are sending in their pocket money and I try to reply to every one of them."

A host of events are taking place on July 13 in aid of the Charlotte's Chance of Life Fund.

Teenage singer Victoria Morris will be putting on a show at the Wyvern Club in Devizes, at 7.30pm. Tickets are available at Devizes Books.

Aldbourne Football Club is playing a pre-season friendly against Trowbridge Town FC, kick-off 3pm.

Charlotte's family are also selling raffle tickets with a first prize of a weekend break in Belgium. Shop, pubs or clubs willing to sell tickets can contact Mrs Bryant on (01380) 727130.