BABIES, toddlers and parents have been busy making a splash for charity, raising more than £2,500 for Salisbury District Hospital.

Members of Turtle Tots Salisbury organised a series of pool activities in October to raise funds for the hospital's charity, the Stars Appeal, where swimmers could wear the colour silver and costumes while taking part in star-themed lessons.

The special charity sessions took place at the hospital, as well as Parkwood Health and Fitness, Sports Direct and Sandy Balls, Fordingbridge.

To date the sessions have raised around £2,680, which will be channelled specifically towards the Stars Appeal Neonatal Unit fund.

Gemma Heath of the Stars Appeal said: “We are delighted to have the support of Turtle Tots Salisbury. The money they raise will help us to continue to provide accommodation for the parents of babies born prematurely and critically ill, and state-of-the-art equipment to help get babies better faster and return home sooner.”

As well as the October fundraiser, the company gives one per cent of its revenue to the Stars Appeal annually.

Becky Eakins, owner of Turtle Tots Salisbury, Blandford and West Hampshire, said: “I’m really amazed at the amount that has been raised and from talking to lots of the parents of my swimmers, it is clear how passionate they are about the work the Stars Appeal do for the neonatal unit in Salisbury because many of my families have had personal experience of it.

"I’m really proud of the fact that so many families wanted to get involved, many of them raising a lot of money individually for Stars Appeal."