CHARITABLE students have presented donations to help save lives across the North-East and Africa.

Students from The King’s Academy, in Coulby Newham, handed over three cheques for £1,600 each to representatives of the school’s adopted charities.

The money will help to support the work of The Butterwick House Children’s Hospice, in Stockton, the Great North East Air Ambulance and The Uhuru Ministries, in Kenya.

Vice principal Gary Wiecek, said: "When the academy opened six years ago we decided to support a local, a regional and an international charity to make students aware of issues on their own doorstep and across the world.

"The students have raised an extraordinary amount from a number of organised events and our year seven pupils alone have collected more than £1,000 from their year group’s charitable giving theme.

"Being closely linked to the local charities also enables our pupils to become more involved with the work of the Butterwick and the air ambulance and some of our students have even gone on to volunteer with the organisations."

Great North East Air Ambulance fundraising manager Ken Weilding said: "This superb donation from The King’s Academy will help to fund at least three missions which may save the lives of up to three people and we are extremely grateful to be one of their chosen charities."

Butterwick House Children’s Hospice representative Damon Millar added: "The pupils here have done a fantastic job and the money raised will go a long way to helping all those families."