A CHANCE to swim for England is beckoning for courageous schoolgirl Laura Giddings - nearly four years after she was left disabled by a terrorist bomb blast.

Laura (11), who lives in Bramshaw, in the New Forest, lost a leg after she and her family were among victims of a terrorist bomb at the Planet Hollywood restaurant in Cape Town, while holidaying in South Africa in August 1998.

Laura's left leg was so badly injured that she had to have it amputated below the knee.

Laura's family were also seriously injured in the bomb blast, which killed three people and injured more than 20.

Now - after only taking up swimming seriously a few months ago - Laura is rated one of the top junior disabled swimmers in the country.

She is already setting her sights high - she wants to be picked for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, and the Paralympics in Beijing.

Her mother, Mandy, said: "We are so proud of her. She works so hard and is absolutely determined."

Laura calls her artificial leg Peggy. And that's the name her parents have given to a charity set up to support limbless children and their families.

This month, artists from the Godolphin School in Salisbury, where Laura is a pupil, are lending their support to the charity.

Works of art, both paintings and sculpture, by past and present pupils and staff are on display at Afon restaurant, Millstream Approach, Salisbury, until the end of this month and commission from any that are sold will benefit Peggy and Friends.