TWO pupils from Newport walked the length of the old Severn Bridge to raise money for the Argus Sparkle Appeal.

Seven-year-old Lauren Probert and nine-year-old Lewis Bailey, of Alway Primary School, braved blustery conditions to cover the mile-long crossing yesterday morning.

The pair collected £300 for the Argus Sparkle appeal, launched last December to raise £250,000 towards a planned £6 million centre for disabled children.

Lauren's left arm is missing because of an illness during her mother's pregnancy, but this hasn't prevented her leading a normal life.

Her mother, Sara Probert, 33, of Parry Drive, Newport, said: "It hasn't stopped her from doing anything at all, really, and I'm very proud of her.

"The weather was quite windy but it was dry, and it took them 70 minutes to get from the English end of the bridge to the Welsh side."

Lauren and her mother came up with the idea to cross the bridge after she first asked if she could do a sponsored leap from the Newport Transporter Bridge.

"Obviously she was too young for that, but we came up with the idea to go across the Severn Bridge," said Mrs Probert.

"We chose the Sparkle appeal because the centre is something that Gwent really needs.

"Lauren wouldn't attend the centre because she goes to Rookwood Hospital in Cardiff for fittings for her prosthetic arm, but it's something that many other children would use."

Lewis' mother, 30-year-old Edwina Bailey, of Eric Coates Close, Ringland, said: "Lewis enjoyed the walk and was very pleased with himself after it - I'm very proud of him."

The money was raised from family, friends, and members of the Alway Community Centre, as well as customers of Supermarket Express, in Alway, where Mrs Probert works as a supervisor.

The South Gwent Children's Centre - which will be built at High Cross, Newport - will cater for 1,200 disabled children and their families living in Newport, Torfaen and south Monmouthshire.