More than 140 pupils from Staindrop Comprehensive School swapped their school uniforms for PE kit for an hour-long aerobics session to raise funds for Help the Aged.

School staff, including headteacher Brian Kinnair, donned their tracksuits to support their pupils' efforts.

The sponsored aerobics session was organised by year seven teacher Marilyn Johnson, to buy mobile alarms for elderly people in Teesdale.

Each pupil taking part, which included all of the school's year seven group, aged between 11 and 12, were asked to get sponsorship from friends and family in the run up to the aerobics session.

Mrs Johnson, who also took part in the event, said: "The children have really done their best to raise as much money as they can for Help the Aged, and they all seemed excited about the aerobics session.

"Hopefully, we have raised enough to buy at least one of the alarms, but our target is to raise enough for two alarms."

The alarms are worn around the user's neck, and send an alarm to police or relatives in the event of them having a fall or being attacked.

Sue Green, North-East fundraising manager for Help the Aged, said: "I'm not sure how much the school has raised, but I reckon it could be as much as £500, which would be enough to provide two elderly people with alarms. They are essentially lifesavers for many users.