Primary school pupil Kaitlin Smith got her knitting needles out to help raise money for Paralympic athletes.

Kaitlin, a Year Six pupil, joined forces with her mum to knit scarves and make miniature clay animals for a bring-and-buy sale at her school, the Froebelian in Horsforth.

Youngsters held the sale in aid of their sponsored charity, Paralympics GB. The children donated unwanted toys, books and handmade gifts to be sold to raise funds for the charity. The pupils collected £180 between them – with Kaitlin’s efforts alone raising £45.

“I love making the little animals, and the scarves are fun to make too,” said Kaitlin, who added that the scarves take less than an hour to knit. Each school year the school’s pupils raise funds for a nominated charity and so far this year they have raised £2,530.

Headmaster John Tranmer said: “By supporting the Paralympic athletes we can help with providing them with the preparation and resources they need to enter the 2012 Games and give them that extra edge that could mean the difference between gold and silver. I am proud of the children’s fundraising efforts so far this year and we have even more fundraising events to come.”