A SPONSORED walk at a Newton Abbot school in memory of a stillborn baby has raised more than £1,300 for the charity SANDS.

Brothers Zach, 10, and Lucas Reeve, nine, pupils at Highweek Primary School, led the walk around the school grounds with mum Jodie Lywood and step dad Tom Philips.

The Starlight Walk took place on what would have been their sister Lottie’s first birthday.

Lottie, who her parents knew had Down’s Syndrome, was still born at 38 weeks at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

Up to 100 adults and children walked laps of the school grounds which had been decorated with lights to make a magical atmosphere.

Jodie said: ‘It was a lovely evening and we had a great turnout, better than we had expected.

‘It was a success and we are really pleased.

‘The boys were made up with it and we had a memory board where people could write messages and names of babies they had lost which was sad but lovely as it brought everyone together.’

Eline Walker, the school’s family liaison officer, said the event had been ‘amazing’.

She said: ‘We couldn’t have asked for a better turn out and the atmosphere was amazing.

‘The children all really enjoyed themselves and we gave them balloons filled with LED lights.

‘We also provided a memory board for people to add their own memories.

‘It was just the right length of time and the school grounds looked beautiful with all the lights.’

National charity SANDS funds research and provides support for families who have been affected by stillbirth, miscarriage or cot death.

Jodie, who is now pregnant again, said the family is planning another fund-raising event, possibly a sponsored bike ride, next January to mark Lottie’s birthday.

She explained: ‘We have wanted to raise money to support the bereavement suite at the RD&E which was very helpful to us after Lottie died.’