A MUM from Edgworth has created a moving Christmas card in memory of her goddaughter.

Clara Fox was just 10-months-old when she died after a bout of pneumococcal meningitis and septicaemia in October 2010.

April Prendergast, Clara's godmother, worked with her illustrator to create a memorial Christmas card, featuring Clara's alter-ego, Clara the Chinchilla.

Ms Prendergast runs Prenderland Books, a company which helps parents to swap their children's stories, and with illustrator Carole Chevalier she has created animal characters based on children in her life, including Clara.

Ms Prendergast said: "The four characters that we used on this card are Clara the Chinchilla, Gabriel the Giraffe, Oscar the Ox and Ted the Turtle.

"There are eight stockings on the scene because Clara was born on December 8. There are bows on the tree because Clara always wore beautiful bows in her hair.

"We put bows on our tree every Christmas to make sure Clara is part of our celebrations.

“I hope lots of people enjoy having Clara and her friends in their home this Christmas. I hope the card brings a smile to people's faces because Clara had such a beautiful smile and brought a smile to the face of everyone who met her."

Ms Prendergast has produced the card in association with Meningitis Now, the charity Clara's parents, Claire Fox and Stefan Juffs, have worked with since Clara's death.

Ms Fox said: "Clara fought against the destruction of meningitis, but though she was brave in heart and spirit she wasn't strong enough for the evil consuming her."

Ms Prendergast added: “I hope that people talk about Clara and the Christmas card to their friends and family to help us raise awareness of meningitis."