MORE THAN twelve and a half thousand pounds have been raised in the memory of the daughter of a Hampshire Formula 1 World Champion.

Ila Scheckter, daughter of 1979 champion Jody and his wife Clare, who live at Laverstoke Park Farm near Overton, passed away last week.

Breaking the tragic news on Instagram, Clare said they were “utterly heartbroken and totally devastated” to announce that Ila died in her sleep, two years after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

The couple, who have five other children, said Ila was battling with addiction after developing epilepsy following major brain surgery, which Clare said resulted in her “having extreme anxiety and fear of seizures”.

However, the family have set-up two Just Giving pages since Ila's death, which have since raised more than £12,500.

The pages, set-up to raise money for Action on Addiction and Centrepoint, have raised £7,339.70 and £5,190 respectively.

A message on both pages says: "Ila was a larger than life character in many ways - funny, wacky, outrageous, beautiful, smart, compassionate, empathetic, loyal and with a smile that could light up a room.

"Aged only 21, Ila has been taken from our lives too soon and the pain our family feel at her loss is unbearable."