Friends, family and classmates of schoolgirl India Hedley, who died just three days after her 13th birthday, have raised more than £2,500 in her memory for Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

They took part in a 12-hour relay walk-skip-hop plus a crawl to help the charity.

India died at her home in Urchfont in August 2013 and her sister Poppy and friends organised India’s Sunflower Relay to celebrate her life.

A total of 150 friends and family, wearing colourful fancy dress, took part in the continuous 12-hour relay in Oakfrith Woods, Urchfont.

Six friends organised the event – sisters Polly and Lara Maton, sisters Ruby and Ella Headlam, Charlie Hinton and India’s sister Poppy.

After completing an allotted 15-minute slot and handing on a teddy bear baton, participants could have their hair dip-dyed, be adorned with temporary tattoos or buy cakes, including India’s own passion-fruit prize-winning recipe. There was also a raffle and music.

On their Just Giving page the young organisers said: “India was an amazing sister/friend who always brought sunshine to every day. She was happy, bubbly and loved everything colourful. She sadly left us very suddenly after her 13th birthday.

"The Wiltshire Air Ambulance were a main part of supporting India’s family, therefore we are raising money for them.”

Village family friends Claire Barsby and Elaine Greenstreet said: “India Hedley very sadly passed away last year a few days after her 13th birthday. The event shook the community, but the loss to her peers and closest friends can only be described as an ongoing void.

"However, instead of letting the grief overwhelm them her friends decided that they wanted to do something to celebrate her life.”

India’s friends visited the air ambulance base at police headquarters in Devizes to present a cheque and to receive certificates of thanks.

This is the latest fundraising event organised by India’s loved ones for the charity in gratitude for its support. The total now raised exceeds £21,500.

Air ambulance paramedic Matt Baskerville said: “We thank the family and friends of India Hedley for their incredible support.

"It’s thanks to the donations from the public that the air ambulance is able to keep flying.”