Enterprising girls set up stall to boost India fund

LEANING from her front window, Maddy Nimmo and friend Lily Elliott are Frant's youngest new shopkeepers.

The two nine-year-olds have set up their own stall selling a selection of fruit and vegetables, children's books, games and homemade cakes in a bid to raise money for charity.

WALKING TALL: Lily Elliott and Maddy Nimmo sell cakes, books and flowers in aid of charity from their stall in Frant High Street GF1808092/1

Maddy was inspired to use her holiday time to raise funds by her aunt Tanya Brinklow's impending trip to Goa, in India, on Sunday to work for the charity Children Walking Tall.

Mrs Brinklow, of Robertsbridge, will work for three months at a children's care centre during the day, before going out into the slums at night to help starving children.

Maddy, who lives on the High Street, has already raised more than £100 in only a few days, and is hoping to collect as much as possible before her aunt flies out.

"We have been working really hard to help Children Walking Tall," she said. "It all started with apples my grandma gave me, and my mum said, why don't we open up a shop here?"

"Lots of people have given us things to sell," added Lily, who also lives on the High Street.

Maddy's mum Nikki explained how the idea had come partially from a neighbour who mentioned that their house used to be a shop, and neighbours once organised a small vegetable market two days a week.

"It has been a great idea. It seems to have brought the whole village together and put smiles on people's faces. It has been really good fun and great for the girls," she said.

Donations have included homegrown food from neighbours' allotments. The girls have had books donated by others and have been hard at work baking cheesecakes, muffins and chocolate spread pancakes.

Everything is sold for under £1 but Lily admitted the price system was open to interpretation.

"We make the prices up," she said.

The trip to India has been entirely funded by Mrs Brinklow, and she has also managed to raise £1,170 to join the girls' money going to the charity.

"It is something I have always wanted to do and a case of now or never," she said. "The work by the girls in helping is amazing."