A FUNDRAISING campaign set up by a Hereford thirteen year old to help pay for his stepmother's funeral has raised over £4000.

Lloyd Hissey began the fundraiser after his "strong, laid-back, gentle and funny" stepmother Clarice, 37, tragically passed away on December 8 after a five month battle with a rare and aggressive terminal cancer of the duodenum.

"I understand it's nearly Christmas, but it's happened so much sooner than we thought, and we didn't know it would cost so much", Lloyd said.

"My dad is now alone and looking after my little 18 month old brother, Arthur. He has had to give up work, so I wanted to try and help, or ask for some help, to give my stepmum a funeral she deserves.

"Now that Arthur will grow up without a mum, we all want to make as many memories of her as we can for him, so he knows what she looked like and what her qualities were.

"We want the best for Clarice as she wanted the best for us. It's the least we could really do for her."

Over 150 donations have so far been made to the fundraiser, which began on December 10, and all money raised will be put towards paying for both a funeral and a memorial for Mrs Hissey, who lived in Bobblestock with her husband and young son.

Lloyd's mother, Traci Jenkins said: "My darling Lloyd has set this up to support his dad. He wanted to try and help somehow.

"Clarice was just beautiful and I'm so glad she was in my boys' lives."

To view or to make a donation to Lloyd's fundraiser, visit https://www.gofundme.com/raising-money-to-help-pay-for-my-stepmums-funeral