POLICE in Maidstone and Malling are appealing to local businesses to help them raise money for a terminally ill child.

Officers are holding a charity auction for all Kent Police staff at Maidstone Police Station on December 8 to help raise money for the nine-year-old girl who is a relative of a police officer.

The money raised will go towards buying specialist equipment to help the girl cope with her rare disease, at her home. She suffers from a very rare condition called Niemann-Pick Disease (Type C).

Officers organising the event are appealing to local businesses for donations of suitable items to auction off as part of this fund raising initiative.

Anyone who is interested in helping, should contact PC Ben Jeffes on 07870 252328, before December 1, to discuss how they may be able to contribute.