CHILDREN at Redland primary school, Chippenham, raised more than £400 when they took part in a charity Skipathon.

Key Stage One pupils, aged between four and seven, spent an hour skipping on Friday morning.

Teachers, teaching assistants and mums joined in the event to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

The craze began when teacher Beth Waterfield attended a workshop organised by the British Heart Foundation on encouraging children to skip for a health lifestyle.

The charity gave the school two bags of skipping ropes and plans for the skipathon took off.

More than 90 children took part in the event, which involved an hour of skipping. Youngsters did skipping on the spot, running and skipping, and skipping games with a traditional long rope.

"Every child took home sponsorship forms and it looks like we have raised a lot of money," said headteacher Hilary Etherington.

"All the children spent a few PE lessons learning about skipping. This is all part of promoting healthy living, and helping to get them fit."

Mrs Etherington said many of the adults had joined the skipping event too and she suspected some would be taking up the hobby to help them keep fit.

Redland will not know the final total raised until all the sponsorship money has been handed in, but Mrs Etherington said: "We are anticipating a very large final figure."