February 23, 2001 12:14: A SCHOOLGIRL kept her mouth shut for 12 hours to raise money for this year's Comic Relief.

Tessa Cooper, nine, from Whielden Lane, Winchmore Hill, carried out her sponsored silence last Thursday.

Much to the surprise of her family and friends, the year five pupil at Curzon Combined School, Amersham, did not even so much as giggle.

She said: "I really wanted to do something both different and difficult to raise money. It was tough all right, especially since my brothers and friends kept pulling faces to try and make me laugh."

She kept quiet from seven in the morning until seven at night raising £52.17 in sponsorship money. Her effort was helped by teacher, Mr Wilkinson.

"He allowed her to write everything down the entire day which was really helpful," said Joy Cooper, Tessa's mum.

"He was probably delighted to have one less chatterbox to deal with."