A MIDDLEWICH schoolgirl has used her pocket money to thank doctors and nurses for looking after coronavirus patients.

Emelia Marlow-Ellis has made rainbow badges and raised £265 for NHS heroes.

The nine-year-old Byley Primary School pupil spent hours designing and making each individual badge by hand.

Mum Emma said:"When Emelia saw Captain Tom doing his walk, she said she wanted to do something. She used all her pocket money and bought Shrinky Dink paper and pins. She made lots of different designs for the badges and baked them in the oven."

Emelia gave the badges to friends, neighbours and relatives for a donation.

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"She is extremely caring," said Emma, a lab technician at Macclesfield Hospital. "I work for the NHS in a pathology lab. Lots of people in different hospitals have bought the badges. She has made more than 150 and people still want more. She has gone through four lots of colouring pencils."

Emelia, a member of Masquerade School of Performing Arts in Northwich, is a keen dancer.

"She absolutely loves performing," said Emma. "She has been in professional panto at the Memorial Hall and was on stage with John Altman, Mr Cotton from Eastenders. She also performs at the Folk and Boat Festival."

Emelia wants to be a make up and costume designer in television.

"I am so proud of her," said Emma. "It was wonderful to see the little smile on her face when the first bit of money came in, she was so excited."