15103/1Students at Malmesbury School have raised over £950 to buy a cow for poor African farmers.

Year 11 pupils raised the money by holding raffles, selling milkshakes at school and donating half the proceeds from their Christmas carol service.

The idea originated after deputy headteacher Margaret Sutherland decided to buy the pupils a Christmas present.

But the kind-hearted students decided they would rather become involved with the Send A Cow appeal. The charity has been supplying goats, pigs and cows to African families since 1998.

Mrs Sutherland was very impressed by the students' enthusiasm and the way they worked together. She said: "It is good to see the pupils caring for people they have never met."