A PRISONER in Northern Ireland was so moved by a Worcester News story about a sick city toddler he organised a collection among inmates to help pay for her treatment.

The extraordinary tale began when Colin McClorey, who is serving in low-security HMP Magilligan, in County Londonderry, was on day-release helping people in the community.

While working at a day care centre he saw a copy of the News that had been sent by Sharon Bristow, who lives in Worcester, to her father, Terry Smith, in Northern Ireland. Mr Smith had handed the paper to his girlfriend, who works at the centre.

The article told the tale of Georgia, Sharon Bristow's four-year-old daughter - and Mr Smith's granddaughter - who has endured 19 operations after a string of illnesses, including meningitis, fluid on the brain, epilepsy and a brain tumour.

McClorey, aged 27, was so moved he asked his governor, Alwin Wilson, if he could organise a collection at HMP Magilligan to help towards the £10,000 needed for Georgia to receive treatment in America.

Mr Wilson contacted the Worcester News and, once Mrs Bristow had given permission, the whip-round started last week. The running total was £600 at the last count.

Sharon Bristow said: "Georgia and I went to visit my dad in August and we came back with £70 in donations so I knew people there were generous, but I couldn't believe this.

"It is pretty amazing that so many people from so many places have offered their support. A big thank-you to everyone - here in Worcester and Northern Ireland."

Mr Wilson said: "The man was so moved he wanted to do something, but as he's a prisoner he couldn't handle the money himself so we had to organise someone else to deal with it.

"But he has gone round the prison and his peers have helped. Now staff are becoming involved. It's only a small open prison but every little helps."

The money will be posted to the home of Sharon and her husband, Simon Bristow, in Fallow Field, Warndon Villages.

HMP Magilligan is a medium to low security prison, which holds adult, male prisoners with six years or less to serve and who meet the relevant security classification.

The are about 350 inmates and 450 staff at the institution.