A nine-year-old girl, shocked at seeing people sleeping on the streets in London when her family took her to a pantomime, asked: “Why are they there? Why don’t they go home?”

When Maddison Loveday was told these people had no homes, she decided to take action.

She told the Broadcast: “I wanted to think what I could do to help. All the privileges we have, a warm bed, a home, four walls and a roof and all they have is the streets. I thought it would be nice to do something.”

Now the Great Dunmow Primary School pupil will have a stall at her school’s Christmas fair on Friday, December 2 selling raffle tickets to raise money for Crisis at Christmas.

Her family and friends have already donated impressive prizes including a 32-inch television set and a remote control helicopter.

The raffle will take place on Sunday, December 18 after the service at St Mary’s Church Dunmow.

With the help of her mum, Nickie, dad Steve and five-year-old twins, Hudson and Liberty, Maddison is now packing up the goodies into hampers.

Nickie said: “We will have a ladies and a gents hamper of cosmetics and I think we are going to have an alcohol hamper.

Dad Steve said: “We explained briefly to Maddison that Crisis at Christmas runs centres where homeless people can have a good meal, clean clothes, a bed for the night and some needed advice on their situation.

“Since then she has had only one thing on her mind, to help. She said she wanted to raise £22.30 so at least one person could have a meal at Christmas.”

Maddison is on target to raise a lot more than that.

If anyone would like to donate prizes or buy raffle tickets, email: Nickieloveday@aol.com