ANDOVER tae kwon-do star Aneaka Reay is going to the sport's world championships in Crete later this month - thanks to a charity based in the town which has stepped in with a £900 donation.

The plight of the Galahad Close youngster was highlighted in Friday's Andover Advertiser.

She was going to miss the opportunity of taking on the best in the world because of the cost of attending.

But after reading her story Ron Bennett, appeals officer of the Andover Brave Hearts Charity, was at her Andover home on Monday to present her with a £900 cheque.

"We are happy to donate £900 from our Special Child Appeal Fund to such a worthy teenager," said Ron.

"Aneaka has worked extremely hard to reach this stage and we should all be very proud of her.

"I hope that other teenagers will be encouraged by Aneaka's efforts and determination and follow in her footsteps."

Since its beginnings in the early 1990s Brave Hearts has raised almost £80,000 towards its charitable work.

Winton School pupil Aneaka hopes to follow in the footsteps of a more famous former pupil from her school, Kate Howey, and claim an Olympic medal.

She is already rated the number one junior in Britain in her event at the under 52kg class and has to travel to Southampton twice every week for practice and to Loughborough University for expert coaching.

"I want to train really hard, be a member of the British team and attend more than one Olympic Games," she said.