AN 11-year-old girl is walking 70 miles to raise money for the intensive care unit at Basildon Hospital that cared for her grandad.

Isla Heard, from Wickford, was inspired by Captain Sir Thomas Moore raising money for the NHS. She sent an email to Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust's chief executive, Clare Panniker, to ask if she could raise money for the ward her grandad had stayed on.

The Beauchamps student has now set up a funding page for people to donate money, with the aim of raising £500.

Her dad, Andrew, explained Isla's grandad had been admitted to Basildon Hospital in December with sepsis and didn't leave until the end of January. He said: "The nurses at the intensive care unit (ICU) had been tremendous and Isla wanted to do something to give something back to them to show she appreciated their work."

Isla said: "The nurses worked really hard to look after my grandad and they were just all so nice to him as well. They worked so hard to make him feel better. I want to thank the nurses and show them my appreciation for their hard work."

Ms Panniker said: "It was lovely to receive Isla's email and read that she is supporting the unit where her grandad was treated. We are so grateful for the support shown by all of our supporters, but it is really inspiring to see so many young people wanting to get actively involved in helping their local hospital. Isla's family should be very proud of her."

To donate money to Isla click this link.