THE brother of a girl killed in a hit and run crash has been hailed for carrying on his sister's legacy on a school trip to Lourdes.

Sophie Brannan was killed in November 2014, aged just 11, when Christopher Hannah mounted the pavement on Sandbank Street and struck her with his hired Vauxhall Astra.

Her friend, Chelsea Sommerville, 10, and Chelsea's uncle, Joseph Lloyd, were also badly injured.

Hannah was sentenced to 12 years in jail for the horror crash.

Tragically, just 24 hours earlier, Sophie's parents had learned she was one of a select group of children chosen to attend the St Blane's Primary School Easter trip to Lourdes.

Following her death, it was decided no other pupil would take her place.

Read more: Man jailed for killing schoolgirl Sophie Brannan,11, in Maryhill hit and run crash

Until it was suggested her brother, Graham, then a second year pupil in John Paul Academy, could attend on her behalf.

And, not only did Graham attend the spiritual trip that year, the 17-year-old is now set to return as a helper to lead youngsters in the trip.

Teacher Aislinn Gallanagh told the Evening Times: "Sophie was an incredibly energetic human being, loads and loads of fun.

"We knew she would bring a huge amount of life to the group and Graham, in turn, did what she would have done.

"Our greatest achievement is now in sending him as a helper."

Aislinn, Graham and other helpers will travel with eight youngsters to the city of Lourdes on Easter Sunday for a fun-filled trip, promising days at the beach, the park and the zoo.

Each day, the group will also attend mass which they "sing [their] way through" with everyone getting involved in musical instruments.

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It's a trip Sophie would have loved, staff said, and now, in her honour, Graham has set out to help other children experience that joy.

Yesterday, the school raised more than £2,000 to take pupils across the border - a fee which costs around £800 per pupil - and other charitable causes.

The cash will also go towards a similar trip run by the school during the summer holidays, which takes youngsters with life limiting illnesses to visit the famous city.

Councillor Chris Cunningham, city convener for education, skills and early years, said: “This is a lovely story of compassion, dedication and commitment on behalf of the staff and school and so heartening to hear about the impact the visits have on the children and the volunteers of the charity.”

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