CHILDREN from Westbury Infant School release their first CD today to help raise funds for a safe route to their classrooms.

Many children walk to the school down a narrow side road also used by cars.

Recently-appointed headteacher Jan Ball decided it was time to provide them with an alternative route.

She approached the parents' association, Westbury Infant School Helpers, for fundraising ideas.

WISH raised more than £1,900 towards the £4,000 needed.

Westbury composer Tim James, whose son Ben goes to the school, decided to step in and lend a helping hand to raise even more. Mr James does freelance work from his home-based Bespoke Music Company.

All 220 children at the school have been involved in singing the song, called Wish, which features lyrics they helped to write themselves.

The CD has been professionally produced, with the cover designed by another parent who works from home, Mark Rylands, of Rylands Brewer.

Mrs Ball is delighted with the result. "Hearing the children sing, watching the concentration on their faces and being involved in the making of the CD has been a privilege," she said.

The CD has already generated interest from local radio stations. The children will perform the song when Westbury Christmas lights are switched on at 6pm tonight.

The CD can be bought for £3.50 from Coopers, Triton Gallery, Cards Plus and the Tourist Information Centre in Westbury.

It can also be found in Rose's Tea Room in Warminster and Etcetera in Trowbridge, as well as Knees in both towns. It can also be ordered by calling (01373) 822716.

l A CHARITY CD put together by pupils at a Trowbridge junior school has gone to the top of a worldwide music chart.

Pupils at St John's RC School compiled the collection of eight songs, written by professional composer Joel Almeida, whose daughter Isabel attends the Wingfield Road school.

The CD, entitled Let The Children Praise God, was released on the internet on the mp3.com site, which carries 700,000 songs from all over the world.

Now one of the songs, Come into the Presence of the Lord, has gone to number three in the children's spiritual chart on the music site.

Mr Almeida, who lives in Wingfield Road, said: "The inspiration for the CD was a former classmate, Jessica Faddegon, who has been battling cancer. She was at the school with my son Tej, but now lives in Canada.

"I wrote the songs and helped train the children.. It is wonderful for the children."

The money raised from sales of the CD is being split between the school and children's cancer charities chosen by the Faddegon family.