When this winter's weather was at its worst, Millie Maree wasn't thinking about building a snowman or going sledging.

The six-year-old was more concerned about the homeless community coping with the bitterly cold conditions.

But rather than just sit there worrying, the pupil from Royal Russell Junior School, in Coombe Lane, Croydon, decided to take direct action.

She organised a sponsored skip and has raised £400 for Crisis – the national charity for single homeless people.

Millie's mum Emma, 40, of Campden Road, South Croydon, said: "Millie has always been worried about homeless people.

"She asked me recently 'why can't we bring them home' and I had to explain it doesn't work like that.

"The next day it snowed. It was bedtime and she was quite upset and admitted she wanted to help the homeless.

"She was asking why they are on the streets and why are they asking for money?"

Millie felt everybody should have a bed and wanted to know why people were living in cardboard boxes.

Emma added: "She appreciates what she has got and couldn't understand why they didn't have a home.

"I told her she could help by giving up her pocket money or by doing something that was sponsored."

So determined Millie set about getting sponsorship from teachers, friends and family for her sponsored skip.

Millie explained: "I did 50 then stopped and then I did another 50. I really wanted to do more.

"When it was snowing I thought it would be a really good idea. I just thought I could do it.

"It was cold and I was a bit worried.

"They (the homeless) might get colder and have to sleep on the ground which is really hard."

Millie completed her sponsored skip on February 6 and is now looking forward to handing over the money to Crisis.

And her efforts have left mum Emma beaming with pride.

She said: "She's my little girl so I'm completely biased. At the time I didn't quite realise how good she was and thought 100 skips was quite a lot.

"But she did this off her own bat and she's only six."