THE community in Weymouth is rallying round to support a heartbroken family who lost their little girl in tragic circumstances.

The sudden death of five-year-old Alexys Brown last week has rocked the town and people are now putting their hands in their pockets to help her family as well as staging events to ensure her memory lives on.

An online campaign set up by a close friend to 'crowdfund' £2,000 to allow the family to 'grieve without financial worry' was smashed within an hour and as of last night, almost £12,000 had been pledged.

A family day is also being arranged for next weekend at the Lazy Lizard seafront bar to raise funds and offers of help and raffle prizes are flooding in.

Fundraising for the family is being backed by the Daily Echo's sister paper, the Dorset Echo.

Lexi, as she was known, died on Thursday after becoming trapped in a lift at her Emmadale Close home.

Touching tributes have been paid with flowers and teddies being left outside her home.

Now people are showing their support by pledging money via JustGiving as a way of showing support to Lexi's family.

Hundreds of messages of support have been written on the crowdfunder page.‬ Ali Record of the Lazy Lizard, a close friend of the Brown family who set up the crowdfunder, said she was 'gobsmacked' by the support.

She said Lexi's parents Lorraine and Matt were 'humbled' by the way the town had come together.

Lexi's brother and sister have been reading all the messages which show how much they're being supported.

Wellwishers are encouraged to use the hashtag #‎flyhighlexigrace Ali said: "I set up the crowdfunder on Friday. It was not something I was asked to do by the family. People were messaging me asking if they could offer some kind of help and I thought this was a way we we could help to ease the burden.

"Lorraine and Matt are self-employed and work is not something they're thinking about right now. They should be allowed to grieve without having to worry."

She added: "I couldn't believe how the campaign took off. The target was reached within three quarters of an hour and pledges keep coming in. I am overwhelmed, gobsmacked. The community is amazing.

"Weymouth wanted to get behind this and send a message to the family that people are thinking about them.

"People just don't what else to do. We don't have a time machine to take us back. This is a way of showing they care. We're all holding hands with the family through this."

A family-friendly gathering called The Brightest Star will be held at the Lazy Lizard on Sunday, August 23 from 12pm-8pm to show support for the Brown family and raise money.

It will include live music, face painting, glitter tattoos (a favourite of Lexi's), cocktails, a barbecue and raffle.

The crowdfunder page can be accessed via http://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/LexiTheBrightestStar THE headteacher of the school where Lexi was a pupil has paid tribute to her, describing her as a 'model pupil' who 'lit up the room with her smile'.

Lexi was a pupil at Beechcroft St Paul's Primary School in Weymouth and was due to move up a year in September.

Headteacher Sarah Sprague said: "The staff and governors were extremely saddened by the news of the tragic death of Alexys.

"She was a model pupil who had begun her educational life at Beechcroft in such a positive way.

Share article "She was extremely popular and lit up the room with her smile.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family."