Hornchurch artist Debby Kirby has been moved to raise money for the Connecticut school where 20 children and six adults were shot last week.

Debby, 51, is donating a painting called “The Little Child and the Red Balloon” to Sandy Hook Elementary School, in memory of those who died on Friday, December 14.

She will also be selling prints of the painting to raise money for the school’s children and teachers.

“What happened has shocked me,” she said.

“As a parent, it’s hard to think of someone going in and doing this.

“I really want those kids to get some counselling.”

Debby, who is half-American, has contacted the school through its Facebook page and will be setting up a direct link to a memorial fund on her website to sell the prints.

“I’ve never personally raised funds in this way, but feel I had to do something as a fellow American,” she said.

Debby intends to travel to America to present the painting to the school.