A Winchmore Hill girl found an unorthodox way of creating an umbrella to raise money for a children’s ward.

Leanna Theodorou, 11, created the multi-coloured brolly out of rubber bands and is set to auction it in aid of the rainbow children’s ward at North Middlesex University Hospital, in Sterling Way, Edmonton.

This is the second time she has helped raise money for the ward, after raising £510 in December from the sale of 250 colourful bracelets called loom bands, which she had made.

Leanna said: “When I was in hospital there was a clown who came to the ward. He was really funny and made everyone laugh and it made me want to do something. I thought ‘I can’t be a clown but I can use my talent to make loom bands’ and so that’s what I’ve done.”

The Winchmore Hill girl spent two weeks in the hospital ward recovering from a virus.

Her mother Lucie said: “I’m really proud that she wanted to give something back to the hospital to help others after her treatment. It’s so important to learn to give as well as to take.

“When Leanna was on the ward there were lots of activities and events like the clown that made a big difference to everyone’s day. It got Leanna thinking about what she could do to brighten up the day for others and the loom bands were the result.”

It took Leanna three months to make the multi-coloured bands, set up stalls and sell them to family, friends and pupils at Grange Park Primary School, in Worlds End Lane, and Ashmole Greek School, in Cecil Road, Southgate.

The multi-coloured umbrella will be auctioned at a special event at Tottenham Community Sports Centre on January 31.