PUPILS at a New Forest school have received an award for helping one of Britain's biggest children's charities.

Year 8 students at Priestlands School in Lymington have been presented with a certificate from Barnardo's after raising almost £2,000.

Pupils sponsored their head of year, Simon Morris, to the tune of £677 when he ran in this year's London Marathon.

They also staged a series of other fundraising events that netted £1,034, making a grand total of £1,711.

Mr Morris said: "This is a fantastic achievement that makes me very proud of my year group and everyone else who contributed both money and time."

Lucy Hone, Barnardo's area education fundraiser, said: "It matters when children realise that other youngsters are less fortunate than themselves.

"The sum raised by Priestlands pupils represents how much they have proved themselves to be caring citizens."