SCHOOLCHILDREN in Belbroughton have been raising money for rescued horses, ponies and donkeys based in the village.

Belbroughton CofE Primary School has handed over around £1,000 to Animal Sanctuary and Protection during its 2013/14 fundraising campaign which saw 50 per cent of the proceeds from events including the Harvest Festival, Christmas show and Easter service donated to the popular village cause.

The school in Bradford Lane has long had close links with the animal sanctuary - which was started by Anthea Frisby, a dinner lady at the school for 25 years, who died last September, aged 74, after dedicating her life to looking after needy four-legged friends.

A school spokesman said: "We thought it would be a nice gesture to honour Anthea's memory and adopt the sanctuary as the children’s charity for the year."

Gaye Hadley, sanctuary finance manager, said: "It's lovely that children can work and be selfless for animals."