A COURAGEOUS Leominster schoolgirl is raising awareness about the dangers associated with airguns after losing her right eye in a tragic accident near her home.

Claire Davies, of Minster College, delivered her poignant - and heartfelt - message last Friday, which also doubled as a fund-raiser for Children in Need.

With help from friends Becky Hartley, Claire Hughes and Sarah Hughes, the brave 13-year-old made 500 colourful eye patches which were sold at the school and raised £425 for Children in Need.

"What has happened, has happened, and I have to get on with things," said Claire. "It has been hard for me since the accident and I think it is important to make people aware of the dangers with guns and to make more people conscious of it. Everybody is very proud of what I am trying to do, especially my family."

Claire has had difficulty balancing since she lost her right eye after being struck by a lead pellet near her Godiva Road home on October 16. The police are investigating the incident.

She said: " I walked into a lamppost because I did not see it - and it's just little things like that."