Pupils at Sandwich Technology School have been raising money to provide toys for three-year-old Sabine White who has leukaemia.

Sabine is the daughter of their English teacher Amber White.

A group of sixth formers led by head boy James Hunt and head girl Jess Wiles presented a cheque for £630 to East Kent Hospitals Charity last Tuesday.

Sabine was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when she was eighteen months old.

Since then she has spent most of her time in Padua Ward at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

She faces another 18 months of chemotherapy.

Mrs White, 36, lives in Chartham with her husband Simon, 32. She said: “The money will be a massive help as it will allow the ward to buy more toys and activities for the children to brighten their stay.”

Mr White said the help from hospital staff at Padua Ward ensures they have some sort of semblance of a family life and time to spend with their other children, Asher, six, and Maddie, five.

This latest donation is part of a series of fundraisers that the couple and their family and friends have organised for the ward, raising almost £2,000 so far.

The Sandwich pupils hosted a Christmas meal for classmates asking them to contribute a donation.

They also encouraged members of staff to perform in a Teacher’s Got Talent extravaganza on the last day of the autumn term.