Schools and groups across the county are top of the pots after they helped to raise £42,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Children aged three-11 got their hands dirty by growing daffodils for the charity's Mini Pots of Care fundraising activity, run in partnership with Yellow Pages.

Mini Pots of Care is a fun and creative way for children to learn about nature and nursing. The initiative has involved 716, 735 children since it was first launched in 2005 and has helped to raise £1.2 million for the charity to date.

In the autumn, children planted a daffodil bulb in their own mini pot which they care for until the bulbs bloom to reflect the care that Marie Curie Nurses provide to terminally ill patients.

In spring the children paint their pots and take their daffodils home to someone they care about in return for a donation to the charity.

Yellow Pages' support for Mini Pots of Care ensures that every pound raised by the children goes directly towards the work of Marie Curie Nurses. The money raised by children across Northern Ireland equates to 2,100 hours of high quality nursing care that Marie Curie Nurses can provide totally free of charge, giving terminally ill patients the choice of dying at home, supported by their families.

The fundraising activity kicks off again this autumn and Marie Curie Cancer Care is inviting schools and groups to sign up now for their free planting kit.

Free curriculum-linked resources and groups worksheets created especially for the activity are also available.

To register visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/minipotsofcare or call 08700 340 040.