Stephen Fry helped raise £2,000 for a cancer-stricken toddler's treatment - by tweeting about her.

The star, who also donated £200 himself to the Stella Rogers Appeal, posted a link on his Twitter page to her Just Giving site after he was asked by a family member.

Supporters of the author and comic then gave £2,000 in two hours after reading his appeal to “please join me”.

Stella’s mother Allison Hyde, who is with her daughter as she receives treatment at a hospital in Philadelphia, USA, said: “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I was told that Stephen Fry had mentioned Stella on Twitter.

“Suddenly there is renewed interest and offers of help with fundraising.

“Following his own generous donation he managed to inspire others to do the same. What a truly lovely man.”

Stella, aged two, was diagnosed with a form of cancer called neuroblastoma when she was 17 months old.

Since February she has been receiving an antibody treatment in the USA which is believed to give her the best chance of survival.

The treatment is not available in the UK.

See this week's Kentish Gazette for full story.