A TEENAGER is giving up her Sunday afternoon to raise money for a charity nature centre which was attacked by arsonists.

Jennifer Lawton, 14, of Walnut Close, Rode, and a pupil at Priory Park College, Bath, was upset after seeing the damage caused to Hope Nature Centre, in Southwick Country Park near Trowbridge.

On July 31 vandals set fire to a shed next to the centre, which helps young adults with learning difficulties, causing thousands of pounds of damage and ruining tools, paint and a fence.

After seeing the damage, Jennifer decided she wanted to do something to help and is holding a cream teas afternoon on Sunday.

Jennifer said: "My auntie took me to Squirrels Tea Rooms, in the centre, for lunch. It was really nice but I saw what had happened to the shed.

"It was really sad. It was a horrible thing for someone to do. There was about £2,000 of damage after the centre had put in so much effort getting all that lovely stuff."

The event, in Walnut Grove, runs from 2-5pm and as well as cream teas there will be a cake stall and a raffle with prizes including a £60 voucher for the Mill at Rode and salon donated hair products.

Jennifer's mum Claire said she was proud of her daughter for organising the event.

"It was all her idea. She was telling me all about the damage and said she wanted to do something to raise money to replace some of the equipment. We did a successful cream tea to help her friend last year who was going to the worldwide Scout jamboree.

"I just thought it was quite refreshing that a 14-year-old has this concern for others. Jennifer designed and printed all the posters and flyers and she and her brother delivered them to nearly every house in Rode.

"We've been overwhelmed with offers of help. Everyone's been really supportive."

The family are expecting more than 100 people and have had clotted cream donated by Ivy House Farm. A marquee is being put up for the occasion in case of bad weather.

June Fleming, who set up Hope Nature Centre, said: "This just shows there are good young people out there, not just bad. How nice of her to do this. It's lovely. I hope the weather's good for them."

She said public support for the centre since it was vandalised has been overwhelming. "People have said how sorry they were to hear about it and have been very sympathetic, kind and generous. People have brought up tools and donations."