CHILDREN at a Stroud school raised money for the hospital that treated a classmate who needed a kidney transplant operation.

Charlie Powell, five, who is in the reception class at Rodborough Primary School, was born with reflux nephropathy, which meant his kidneys didn't function properly.

But in April - the day after his fifth birthday - Charlie had a transplant operation after a donor was found.

Prior to the operation, Charlie had to be fed via a tube overnight.

His mother, Liz, 34, was thrilled when, after the operation at the Royal Children's Hospital in Bristol, Charlie could sit down with the family to eat at last.

"We were devastated when we found out about his problems and it completely changed our lifestyles," she said.

"Because of Charlie's problems we would never do anything without planning well in advance, and couldn't travel too far Bristol.

"The thing about kidney problems is that you never know what's going to happen.

"When he went into hospital it was very emotional and there were lots of complications.

"But Charlie has always been so accepting and so brilliant - he copes with it better than we do."

Charlie was in hospital for about 10 weeks after the transplant.

But he managed to return to school for the last three weeks of the summer term and in time for its annual money trail fundraiser.

Because of his illness, the children chose to donate the £250 raised to the renal unit at the hospital which helped Charlie.

Liz said she was very grateful to the school, their friends and family for the support given to Charlie.

She and partner Steven now believe everyone should consider being an organ donor.

She addd: "Nobody wants to think about what could happen to them but everybody should give it some thought so that their family know what they want."