ALICE and Lucy Hargreaves had a busy summer, helping their grandfather pot and label the honey from his beehives.

Eight-year-old Alice was allowed to dress up in her grandmother's protective clothing. "We had to stuff newspaper down her boots to keep the bees out," said Lucy, six.

They worked so hard that their grandfather, who has been keeping bees for 30 years, gave them some to sell - because the Wimborne sisters have a mission - Lucy is raising money for homeless charity Shelter and Alice's share is going to the Red Cross.

It all started last year when they went to London to see The Nutcracker Suite.

"We saw some people living in boxes in the streets," said Lucy. "I felt a bit sad and we wanted to help them."

They staged a Nativity play for relatives and passed around the hat.

Alice played Mary and narrated the story while Lucy played the donkey, the star, the angel and baby Jesus. Their mother, Anne, played Joseph.

A cheque was sent off to Shelter and now they are selling the summer's crop of honey. "I hope the homeless people will have a good Christmas," said Lucy. Alice said: "I chose the Red Cross because they help people in floods in Africa and India."

The girls, who live in Giddylake, with mother Anne, their father, Mike, and brother Tim, four, go to St James's First School at Gaunts Common.