SCHOOLGIRL Esther Harflett has raised £300 for The National Deaf Children’s Society after completing a sign language spellathon.

The five-year-old spelt out the entire alphabet in British Sign Language before spelling out 61 words, ranging in difficulty from cat to daughter, for more than 50 sponsors.

She decided to complete the spellathon after hearing about the work of the National Deaf Children’s Society, a charity helping children who cannot hear or talk to learn British Sign Language and Makaton, a language programme using signs and symbols.

Esther, a pupils at Holy Trinity Academy in Calne, who has a friend at school who uses Makaton, immediately wanted to help.

Esther’s mum Katie Harflett said: “I am really proud of her; she’s doing it because she has a good heart. It sums up her little personality, she is a real giver.

“She just knows she’s going to help children who need it.”

A video of Esther's spellathon can be viewed on Youtube by searching Esther Spellathon and readers wishing to contribute to Esther’s collection for the National Deaf Children's Society can email katieshomemadecakes@hotmail.co.uk