PUPILS of Burbage Primary did their part to raise money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance by taking part in a bake off, and also were paid a visit from the new charity mascot.

After being sponsored by the Burbage-based company Soft Options, Wiltshire Air Ambulance unveiled their new mascot Wilber, and decided to pay a visit to the school in Eastcourt, which was hosting the bake off cake sale to raise money for the charity.

Mrs Nicola Coupe, principal at Burbage Primary School, said: "As a school in the heart of our community it is important to us to have close connections with parents and local businesses, so when two of our parents and directors of Soft Options Water Softeners approached us with the idea we were more than happy to get involved.

"The children were extremely excited and enjoyed the event immensely.”

Soft Options, the family-run business in Webb Way, provides water filtration systems to households in the county.

As a Burbage-based company Simon Neate and Alison Cook, directors of the company, decided to keep it local and choose the school for the first public appearance for the mascot.

“We chose Burbage Primary School as the first public appearance for the mascot as we have close links with the school being located in the same village as our business, and our two girls, Jess aged 8 and Annabelle aged 5 both attend the school," they said.

"Burbage Primary School kindly offered to hold a bake sale to raise money for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance in conjunction with the mascot appearance and we commissioned a cake which was cut on the day and sold off to raise more money.

"The children loved meeting the mascot and it was a pleasure to see happy smiles all round.”

An education volunteer manager from Wiltshire Air Ambulance also visited the school on the day to give a talk on the important work which the charity provides.

Jemma Brown said: “I go to the schools to do talks on the need for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance. The children at Burbage asked some very good questions and really listened to what I had to say. I left before Wilbur got there but from what I have heard they absolutely loved it.”