A BIG-HEARTED Stourbridge schoolgirl has collected in bagfuls of food and toiletries to help people in crisis.

Lettie Hale, aged 10, who attends Gig Mill Primary School, has organised a collection of food and other essential items in her street, Windsor Road, for the last six years.

Last year she collected in 80kg of food products but this time round, with help from her younger brother George, she has amassed a whopping 95kg of items to give to the town's Foodbank to help families and individuals who are struggling to make ends meet.

Each year Lettie has sent out letters to her neighbours asking them to join her in collecting for Stourbridge Foodbank and her annual plea has resulted in generous donations for the charity.

As a thank you for her efforts she was presented with a certificate of appreciation by the charity.

Lettie's mum Sarah Hale said: "I am so very proud of Lettie and what she has achieved and how she wants to do it every year.

"She was so chuffed that she received a certificate - she took it into school to show her teacher and was asked to talk and answer questions in assembly about the work she had done as they were doing a Foodbank collection across the school."

She added: "George will be eight on Thursday and he is becoming just as socially aware as his big sister.

"He worries if we see homeless people. He's become Lettie's sidekick, helping her go round to all of our neighbours."