THERE'S no need to ask Peebles primary pupil Ciara Quinn what her favourite number is?

The seven-year-old, who is about to embark on an amazing charity swimming challenge, sticks between six and eight.

Ciara is currently preparing to swim seven lengths of the Peebles Hydro pool on seven consecutive days to fund more audio-books for the blind.

And she is asking people in the town to keep the lucky-seven theme going by sponsoring her for any amount as long as it has her favourite number in the figure - 7p, 77p, £7.77, etc.

Ciara told the Peeblesshire News: "I love swimming so I thought I would do this to raise money for audio-books.

"My mum Linda, who’s an optician, spent a day wearing special glasses that simulated sight loss and also organised a special afternoon tea for this, so I wanted to do something, too.”

This year, Peebles became the first town in the UK to sponsor talking books as a community.

Local businesses, community groups and schools have raised over £9,800 so far.

Angela Preston, fundraising manager for RNIB Scotland, applauded Ciara’s commitment.

She told us: “It's really great that Ciara is stepping up to this challenge in her summer holidays, and we hope she will inspire even more people in Peebles to take part in this town’s truly amazing efforts in support of RNIB talking books.

“It costs up to £2,500 to professionally narrate and record a talking book.

"So we absolutely rely on the support of the public to ensure people with sight loss of all ages have a chance to read the same books that the rest of us enjoy."

Ciara will begin her seven-lengths challenge on Monday, July 24.

She is also inviting others in Peebles to do similar challenges based on their age, whether it's cycling, walking, running or reading and add to the town’s drive to help sight loss charity RNIB.

Ahead of Ciara's challenge staff at Peebles Hydro presented the seven-year-old with a gift.

Bethany Bland, leisure club manager at Peebles Hydro, said: “We were delighted to meet Ciara when we heard about the challenge she’s set herself.

"The staff presented her with a bag of swimming goodies to welcome her to the pool.”

The RNIB talking books library provides over 30,000 audio-books a year to adults and children with sight loss.

The youngest reader is one year old and the oldest 104.

To donate to Ciara’s swimming challenge visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/linda-quinn7