PUPILS at an east Durham infants school will not be sending any Christmas cards this year.

Instead, youngsters at Peterlee's Shotton Hall school will be using their saved money to help former pupil Frances Lee.

Frances, seven, was in the top class at the infants school when she was injured in a road accident earlier this year.

The youngster has been in hospital ever since, and is only now able to come home at weekends. But Frances' family are hoping to make special adaptations to their Peterlee home to allow the brave young girl to come home on a permanent basis.

"So instead of sending Christmas cards, pupils and staff decided to donate our money to Frances,'' said headteacher Jane Simpson.

Each day the pupils make their donations, which are being recorded on a special Christmas tree. And no one at Shotton Hall Infants has any doubt about what would be the best Christmas present they could wish for.

"We are all hoping Frances will be home by Christmas,'' said Mrs Simpson