SCHOOLBOY David Cross will spend a day as headteacher at Minety School after his parents bid for the honour in a fundraising auction of promises.

David, nine, will join headteacher Bernard Crooks bright and early tomorrow at 8am before taking the school for assembly and accompanying pupils on a trip to an art exhibition at Crudwell School.

"It should be interesting and very funny and something of a shock for David to come in at 8am," said Mr Crooks.

David's prize was one of a host of items auctioned at the primary school on Friday in the auction of promises.

"We wanted to do an event that raised a lot of money in one go," said Mr Crooks. "It was a great success and a great deal of fun. We raised £4,138.72."

He said Heather Whitcombe, from Minety, bid successfully for a bag of Ross's manure, and other items included three weekly ironing sessions for cotton shirts, which was put up by Heather Pilcher.

Mr Crooks said the money would go towards general funds for the improvement of the school.

"We raised a little more than I expected but I had soon realised how popular the night was becoming in the run-up to the event," added Mr Crooks.