A KIND-hearted prisoners from Northern Ireland had a whip-round to raise £900 for a city toddler with fluid on the brain after a prisoner read a copy of the Worcester News.

The turn of events have been described as "absolutely astonishing" by Worcester mother Sharon Bristow, whose seven-month old daughter also suffers from meningitis and epilepsy.

The total money raised now stands at £4,617 after the Worcester News highlighted her appeal last October.

Mrs Bristow's needs £10,000 to pay for her daughter's treatment in America. The extraordinary tale started when Sharon, 26, of Fallow Field, Warndon, sent a copy of the paper to dad Terry Smith who works in Northern Ireland as a lorry driver.

Mr Smith then handed the newspaper to partner Carol Feeney who works at a day-release centre.

A prisoner visiting the centre got hold of the Worcester News and asked other inmates at HMP Magilligan to raise some money. "I got a call from the prison last week to say they had raised £900," said Mrs Bristow. "I was absolutely astonished. They said themselves they only expected around £200, so to get £900 was marvellous.

"They've been tremendous. I would like to send my thanks to all of them.

"It was thanks to Carol that it happened, really. To think a prison in Northern Ireland has raised so much money for my baby daughter."

Mrs Bristow intends to put on charity events for her daughter to help raise money to get towards the total of £10,000.

Wood Green nursery - which Georgia used to attend - raised £1,200 for her by holding a sponsored skipping event and having staff donate money rather than buy each other Christmas cards in December.

"We'll keep on going. We've done well so far," said Mrs Bristow.

Terry Smith and Carol Feeney travelled from Northern Ireland to present the cheque to Mrs Bristow at a fund-raising event at the Arboretum Inn in Worcester.