MURDERED Calne schoolgirl Ellie Gould has left a lasting legacy at Riding for the Disabled, a charity which she supported for years.

Ellie's friends have raised a total of over £8,000 for the charity which they presented to their chairman Rachel Vaughan-Johns at Larkrise Community farm last night.

George Strevens raised almost £6,000 by running the Chippenham half marathon last month, and Tilda Offen, Ellie Welling and Harriet Adams raised the rest of a money by hosting a cake sale at Hardenhuish School, where they and Ellie were pupils.

Ellie's parents Carole and Matthew Gould thanked her friends for their fundraising efforts.

Ellie was passionate about horse riding and her own pony, Blackjack, was often ridden by disabled people at the charity.

Tilda said: "Ellie was such an amazing girl and we just want to carry on her legacy. She really did love horses and riding.

"We know the cause is close to her heart and something she can relate to. We wanted to make sure we did something which she would be proud of and I think we have definitely done that."

George added: "I am proud of myself for raising the amount I did in memory of Ellie for a charity which she loved.

"I didn't know Ellie for very long but she was an incredible girl."

Ellie, 17, was stabbed to death at her home in Calne on May 3.

In August Thomas Griffiths, 17, who also went to Hardenhuish School, was convicted of her murder and will be sentenced on November 7.

Full story in this week's Gazette and Herald and Wiltshire Times.