By John Connell

Last updated at 11:58, Saturday, 15 December 2012

Two 10-year-old “chatterboxes” learned that silence is golden when they raised more than £100 for charity just by keeping quiet.

Aimee Moore, left, and Olivia Seal

Chatty best friends Olivia Seal and Aimee Moore from Carlisle usually struggle to keep their mouths shut for two minutes.

But the Belle Vue Primary School pupils managed to stay tight-lipped for 24 hours, raising £150 for the UK disability charity Scope.

The two girls from the Belle Vue area of Carlisle came up with the idea because Olivia’s grandmother Irene Scott works as a volunteer in a Scope charity shop.

Olivia’s mum Rachel Seal, of Green Lane, said: “Both of them thought it would be a nice idea to raise money for the charity.

“We are very proud of them both. They have done remarkably well to keep such a lengthy silence.

“Normally they can’t keep quiet for even a couple of minutes, never mind 24 hours; they are both chatter boxes.

“Having Olivia in the house without speaking was very odd. Usually from the minute she gets up she is singing and laughing.

“My husband would like to the sponsored silence to happen every Sunday – he just won’t pay her next time.”

Both of the girls completed the challenge in their own homes.

Olivia stayed in her room for most of the day so she wouldn’t be tempted to join in with any family conversations.

She even had her Sunday lunch in her bedroom.

Meanwhile, Aimee was also giving her family some peace and quiet on Beck Road. Rachel said: “They wrote messages on bits of paper if they wanted something. They texted each other during the course of the day and find out how the other was getting on, to give support and to make sure there was no cheating.”

Scope works to make sure disabled people and their families can have the same opportunities as everyone else. It offers practical support, from information services to education and everyday care.

First published at 11:13, Saturday, 15 December 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk