BRACELETS spelling out messages of hope and love have helped two teenagers to raise more than £400 for the hospice that cared for their grandfather.

Cousins Megan Slip, from Dilton Marsh, and Rose Carnohan, from Trowbridge, decided to make and sell the bracelets to raise funds for Dorothy House after seeing the support the hospice gave their grandad Graham Slip.

The wooden bead bracelets, which are in the Dorothy House colours of pink and purple, spell Smile, Faith, Hope, Believe and Love. They are selling fast on the girls’ website at www.ChainsOfLife.co.uk.

The girls are hoping their Love bracelets will prove a big seller in the run-up to Valentine’s Day.

Megan and Rose, both 14, said: “Our grandad spent his last few days in Dorothy House. Although it is not a nice place to have to be, it was amazing to see how helpful and kind the staff were and they all really wanted to help.

“Grandad was happy there too. We only saw him there a couple of times, but he was smiling and he always kept his head up, even knowing what he was fighting.

“From our short visits, we witnessed the effort and fantastic care the staff provided and decided to do something to help raise funds, because the hospice relies on support from the public to provide its services.”

The bracelets sell for just £3 each, with one free if you order three, and every penny goes to Dorothy House.

Megan, who goes to Matravers School in Westbury, and Rose, who goes to Clarendon College, Trowbridge, recently visited Dorothy House in Winsley to hand over a cheque for £445.

Fundraiser Yvonne Brun-ton said: “We are so impressed. The bracelets are so pretty, especially with their inspiring messages and will make a perfect little gift for Valentine’s Day.”

Megan’s dad, Barry Slip, added: “I am very proud of the girls. They have been very busy making the bracel- lets, often working into the evening and weekends to fit round school work. They came up with the design themselves and also created the website on their own. I know my dad would have been very proud of them too.”