FOUR Wiltshire youngsters have been praised for helping fund-raising make a record start for a new £150,000 school hall at Luckington, near Castle Combe.

The four Luckington youngsters, Sammy Arnot-Ham, Claire Jobbins, Fay Bolton and James Hutchinson, were among 20 volunteers who raised a massive £1,284 towards the project from the recent giant car boot sale at Castle Combe racing circuit.

Lesley Bennett, chair of Luckington School governors, said the youngsters all did a fantastic job collecting donations from the crowds.

She said: "It was a great day and incredibly busy, and the youngsters were very enthusiastic. There is no doubt that their efforts paid off in the amazing amount of money that we raised."

While the primary school, with 48 pupils, will receive grants towards the cost of the new hall, they have to match them pound for pound and expect to raise £40,000 towards the anticipated shortfall.

The Friends of Luckington School was one of eight local good causes selected by Castle Combe circuit to raise funds from the massive monthly carboot sales this summer, which are the largest of their kind in the South West.

The monthly boot sale regularly attracts several hundred stalls and attracts thousands of bargain hunters.

The car boot sale opens from 8am to 2pm and browsers and buyers donate 25p each to the chosen charity, while sellers are charged £8 per car and vans pay between £10 and £25 depending on size.

Sheldon Parent Teachers' Association is the chosen good cause for the next car boot sale at the circuit on May 19.

Each year the car boot sales raise more than £10,000 for local charities and good causes.