KEY Day Nursery has raised nearly £250 for the Lydia Harding Oasis of Hope Appeal by having a teddy bear's picnic every day last week.

Lydia, 15,of Barken Road, Chippenham, was due to fly out to the Oasis of Hope clinic in Mexico yesterday for alternative cancer treatment.

Her sister Melissa, 21, works as a play supervisor at the Calne nursery school, and staff arranged the fundraiser as a surprise.

Melissa said she was very impressed by the effort staff had gone to.

"It was a really nice surprise because I didn't know we were going to do anything and all the children had a really good time," she said.

Nursery owner Gillian Key said: "We've all known Lydia for a long time so there was a personal side to wanting to help.

"We wanted to give it 100 percent for her."

The appeal for £20,000 to send Lydia to Mexico started less than a month ago when a scan revealed four tumours in her lungs were growing.

Thanks to the generous donations of local individuals, schools and groups, the appeal has now reached £40,000 and surplus money will be used to set up a trust fund for other youngsters in a similar situation.