A SCHOOLBOY who gave up his favourite biscuits for three months to raise money for the hospital unit that cared for his baby sister before she died has raised £1,084.

Mark Putley, 12, who attends The Cornwallis School at Linton, near Maidstone, gave up custard creams to raise money for the special care baby unit at Maidstone Hospital after staff nursed his baby sister, Alice, who was born with Edward's Syndrome.

Alice was born on March 24 this year with an extra 18th chromosome, causing problems in her heart, lungs and digestive system. The family soon learned that she would only live for a short time.

Mark, his nine-year-old brother Howard and his parents Andrew and Sarah spent less than a month with the tot, being supported all the time by nurses at the special care unit.

After Alice died on April 16, Mark decided to do something to thank the nurses and, as he is used to eating up to 15 custard creams a day, his "biscuit fast" was a genuine challenge for him.

Mark approched the Kent Messenger in October to tell his story, and when his fast ended on November 12 he decided he wanted to thank everybody who read the article and took the time to write to him.

He said: "In the first week it was in the Kent Messenger we started getting money from all over, even from London. People were sending in as much as £50. People sent in anonymous donations too which is why I want to say a big thank you as I don't know who some of the people are."

Mark's mother Sarah, who went with him to hand the money over to the nurses says she is incredibly proud of her eldest son.

"I was surprised by how many people wrote to Mark to say well done to him. He has kept all the letters," she added.