A BURGLARY at a Hampshire school prompted parents and staff to hold a fund-raising ball to replace the stolen goods.

The Wellow School Association successfully rose to the challenge of hosting a summer ball for more than 150 guests, raising £2,500 for the school and The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

In addition to ticket sales, funds were raised through a bar and taxi service, operated by teachers and parents, and through a raffle.

There was also auction with prizes donated by local businesses including Lyburn Cheese, Chilworth Manor and J&J Parsons.

Bethan Larcombe, Head of Wellow Primary School said: “This has been a fantastic experience which not only engaged the school and parents but also local businesses and the wider community.

“ It has been a tough but rewarding challenge for everyone involved and the benefits will hopefully be reaped long after the event itself.

Rachel Leaman, Head of Income Generation at the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance commented, “The organisers of the ‘All That Glitters’ charity summer ball have raised a truly impressive sum for us and we are very grateful for all of the hard work that went in to making the event such a success. It is only thanks to the support of our local community that we are able to continue to keep the Air Ambulance flying and saving lives’.

It currently costs in excess of £9,000 a day to maintain the Air Ambulance life saving service, and it is only thanks to the generosity of the communities that they can continue to serve and save lives. There are numerous ways to donate to the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, please see this link for further details http://www.hiowaa.org/donate/

Following the break-in, and burglary at Wellow School in April the school has been reaching out to parents and the community to help meet the costs of replacing stolen goods, repairing damage and upgrading the school security systems.

To donate to the school contact the school office on 01794 322201 or email adminoffice@wellow.hants.sch.uk