FIVE-year-old Esther Harflett has been shortlisted for a national award after raising hundreds of pounds doing a sponsored spellathon in sign language.

Esther, who attends Holy Trinity Academy in Calne, was featured in the Gazette and Herald back in April after raising £300 for the National Deaf Children’s Society.

She was sponsored by friends and family to spell out the alphabet in British Sign Language and 61 words ranging in difficulty from cat to daughter.

Now, national deaf charity Signature has announced the shortlists for their 2015 Annual Awards and Esther is shortlisted for the Inspirational Young Person award.

Her mum Katie nominated her for the Signature award and said: "Esther's over the moon with her nomination and obviously we are all super proud of her.

“It actually all started with a knock at the door, a charity representative came and Esther tried to give him the contents of her piggy bank when she knew it was to support children who used sign language but unfortunately he couldn't accept it right there on the doorstep.

"Esther wanted to help because she has a friend at school who uses sign to communicate. Esther now uses it too, she even helps the teachers sometimes, and so she wanted to raise some awareness."

Esther’s best friend at school uses sign language and Makaton to communicate in class, and Esther has learnt some sign language so she can better communicate with her friend.

Signature's chief operating officer, Lindsay Foster, said: "Esther’s determination to make a positive difference and help other children is just amazing. We were all touched to read her story and she has done very, very well to be shortlisted."

Esther will now go up against three other young people, all teenagers, at the 2015 Signature Annual Awards, presented by BBC breakfast present Naga Munchetty, on Friday at the Museum of Science & Industry in Manchester.

Susan Daniels, CEO at the national Deaf Children’s Society, said: “This is a fantastic achievement by five-year-old Esther, whose efforts to support her friend, learn sign language and increase deaf awareness are wonderful.

“I would like to sincerely thank Esther for the money she has raised for the National Deaf Children’s Society, which will help us support more deaf children and their families.”