A TEENAGER has raised more than £300 to help animals suffering in the Australian wildfires.

Milly Aldridge, 14, held a cake sale, tombola and raffle at Braintree’s George Yard shopping centre on Saturday to raise money for animals in Australia.

All proceeds from the stall are going to the World Wide Fund For Nature and the work it is doing to help animals affected by the fires.

So far it is estimated that up to 1.25 billion animals across Australia have been affected, including 30 per cent of the entire koala population in the mid-north coast of New South Wales.

Milly, who goes to Hedingham School, came up with the idea after seeing the bushfires on the news and wanting to do something to help.

Mum Jacqui said: “Milly was so touched like lots of people by the loss of wildlife in Australia that she wanted to do something to help.

“She saw everything going on in the news so she took it upon herself to contact George Yard, who said we could use the bandstand for a fundraiser.

“We then asked friends for donations of unwanted gifts for a tombola.

Many businesses and shops donated prizes to the stall.

On the Cake Front donated cake toppers and the Braintree Printing Company donated stickers.

The Mulberry Tree Brewers Fayre on Braintree Road also donated a meal for four as the top raffle prize.

Jacqui said: “I think we had about 80 gifts on the tombola in total – everyone was amazing.

“Milly had help from her friend Lilly Brand on the day and it went really really well.

“We raised £274 in a couple of hours and someone contacted us to take the total to £300. Now people have said they want to donate more this week.”

Donations were also made by Feathers hair salon, Maldon Fruit Supplies and Bumble and Yarn.