Senior pupils at South Craven School have raised thousands of pounds to help injured British soldiers.

The students collected a total of £3,715 for the charity Help for Heroes.

They were taking part in a challenge set by their headteacher, Dr Andrew Cummings. Each of the sixth form’s tutor groups was given £10 and tasked with increasing the amount for charity.

Students from the most successful tutor group climbed the Yorkshire Three Peaks and raised more than £500.

A spokesman for the Cross Hills school said: “The decision to support Help for Heroes was made even more relevant when we received the news that former South Craven student, Gareth Thursby, had died while serving in Afghanistan.”

She added: “Some of the student groups baked cakes to sell at break times, a chocolate fountain was successful as were the chocolate pancakes sold by another group.

“A hugely popular idea was an auction where pupils in years seven and eight bid for the services of a sixth former to act as their personal assistant for a day.”