LOTS of bright little ducklings have been waddling across Poundbury's Great Field to raise funds for charity.

Inspired by a Dorchester boy’s brave battle with meningitis, the Toddle Waddle event saw the whole community come together for Meningitis Now and raise awareness for the need to keep paediatric services at Dorset County Hospital (DCH).

Organised by mother Naomi Patterson, a leading campaigner for Meningitis Now, the successful event, now in its third year, attracted friends, families and football teams on Saturday.

Naomi's nine-year-old son, George, suffered from pneumococcal meningitis just a week before his first birthday.

The illness has left him requiring round the clock care for the rest of his life.

Alongside George at the event were other children who have suffered from meningitis, and who were treated at DCH.

Naomi said: "They received brilliant care. Without paediatrics at DCH, our concern is whether with the timings if children are going to be treated at quickly as possible.

"They are trying to reduce the hours of paediatric care. With meningitis it happens very quickly and we aren't happy."

Naomi has been a leading figure in the campaign to keep hospital services in Dorchester as Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) considers the future of paediatric and maternity services.

She said: "We have been in close contact and are meeting with them to talk about our concerns.

"All along our feelings have been quite high and there's some uncertainty and anxiety amongst us. We want people to be aware of it all."

Lots of little ducklings and supporters took part in a sponsored one-mile walk led by 13 year old Darcy Lane from Weymouth, Weymouth Carnival's Teen Miss Charity 2016.

Darcy said: "I've come along today because Naomi is supporting Meningitis Now.

"My twin brother died when he was 11 months old from it.

"It's an important charity and I think it's really good cause."

After the walk, the crowd enjoyed a football tournament between The Bakers Arms from Dorchester and The Market House from Weymouth as they battled it out for the George Patterson Trophy.

Stalls were set up with cake and car boot sales, while live music was put on and a bar.

Fiona Cave attended the event with her four year old granddaughter Bethany.

Fiona said: "We came to support Meningitis Now and see Iron Man, Bethany's hero, and to support local events really.

"Meningitis Now is such a good charity, it affects so many people and for local support and people to get up and do something about it I think is brilliant."

Rachel Scott, who is Weymouth Carnival's Miss Charity 2016, said: "There's so many big charities in our community that are established but I think it's really important that we support the smaller ones as well as otherwise we will lose them."

The funds from the Toddle Waddle day are going towards Team George's London Marathon Fund.

For more details about the work of the Meningitis Now charity visit meningitisnow.org