TWO youngsters braved icy-cold weather and raised more than £500 during a pony ride for a four-year-old girl battling leukaemia.

Martha Pepper, three, and Jacob McCollom, four, rode ‘Choco the pony’ for an hour up Noyna Hill in Foulridge.

The pair raised the cash for Amy Slinger, from Colne, who was recently diagnosed with the blood disease.

The little one is receiving treatment at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and has just completed a course of chemotherapy.

She will continue to receive intensive treatment for the next 18 months.

Martha’s mum, Alice Gallie, heard about Amy’s condition from her neighbour, Shirley Slinger, Amy’s grandmother, and decided to help.

Ms Gallie told her daughter and her friend about Amy and the pair decided they wanted to raise money to help her.

Amy’s mum, Carolyn, said she was lost for words when she found out what the children had done.

She said: “We are absolutely overwhelmed by what Martha and Jacob have done for Amy. It’s incredible to see two little ones care so much about someone they don’t even know.

“We cannot thank them or Alice enough for what they have done, they’re truly amazing. Amy’s chemotherapy is out the way but she’s still got a long way to go.

“Because her immune system is so low, we have to make sure she doesn’t get a temperature or catch anything because it could become really dangerous.”

The money raised will go to Ward 84 of the Manchester hospital which is treating Amy. Martha and Jacob had planned to ride for an hour-and-a-half but bad weather forced them to finish the ride early.

But they will complete the journey soon when the weather improves.

Ms Gallie said the children have done a great deed for Amy and others in her situation.

She said: “The pair had been on the horse before but they had never ridden one properly. They were really brave to go as far as they did, but due to the ice and cold conditions we had to pull out just before the end.

“Amy is also extremely brave and showing great courage over what she’s going through, so this was the least we could do to help.”

Mrs Slinger, a former beautician, said: “Amy is keeping positive and upbeat like she always does, but she’s had to grow up fast. All the help from everyone has been absolutely fantastic.”