A big heart and a sweet tooth helped eight-year-old Deborah Awe bag £600 for a children’s charity through a cake sale.

Deborah, a pupil at Brentwood Preparatory School, organised the sale in aid of Redbridge charity The Dream Factory, which brings to life the dreams of youngsters with life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses.

“I met a girl called Daisy earlier this year and I was told she was very ill,” said Deborah. “Her parents were very upset when they explained it to me.

“Since then, I have wanted to donate to charities to help children like her.”

Deborah was so touched by her encounter with Daisy that shortly after meeting her she decided to donate all of the presents she received for her first Communion to the charity.

School head Jason Whiskerd added: “We do a lot of work for charity but this particular event was something of a first.

“It’s a wonderful feeling to help children who may not be as fortunate as we are.”