THE spirit of Lelaina Hall, who died tragically in the water at Burnham-on-Sea, near Weston-super-Mare, will be kept alive with the launch of a new rescue hovercraft and boathouse.

Lelaina would have celebrated her sixth birthday today. To commemorate the date, her family are travelling to Burnham to officially initiate the building of the boathouse.

The five-year-old died on Sunday, June 23, last year, after being caught by the incoming tide when she was trapped on the mudflats.

Despite efforts to save her, the Oldbury Park schoolgirl drowned.

Her mother Caroline, who still lives in the city, said she was keen to keep Lelaina's memory alive with something positive.

"It's been difficult, obviously, but I wanted to do something special," said Mrs Hall, now of Pitchcroft Lane, Barbourne.

"That's the good that has come out of it. This is a good legacy.

"The launch will be the first time we've been back to Burnham and it will be quite hard."

The campaign to fund a £35,000 hovercraft that can rescue people from the mudflats was launched days after the tragedy by the Western Daily Press newspaper.

Within three weeks, the total had been met and continued fund-raising has taken the money raised to more than £100,000.

This will pay for the boathouse and will fund the running of the hovercraft - to be named Spirit of Lelaina - for at least 10 years.

"I only found out about the fund by accident," said Mrs Hall.

"It's been overwhelming. Lelaina seemed to touch their hearts."

Mrs Hall will be at Burnham with her partner Laurence Boyle, who also became stuck in the mud as he tried to rescue Lelaina.

A jury returned a verdict of accidental death at Lelaina's inquest in October.