CHILDREN at Ivy Lane School in Chippenham have raised enough money to sponsor an elephant at a national park in Africa for 13 years following a fundraiser.

Pupils from Year 3 hoped to raise £40 with the sale of their hand-crafted beads so they could sponsor an elephant at the Tsavo National Park but the school has been left stunned when parents dug deep to give £530.

The beads, which were decorated by each and every pupil to represent a part of the park, were sole to parents on Friday.

Teacher Tracey Horan said: "The children have been incredible from the very start and the families were extremely generous and supportive.

"It was a day where our school belief of learning for life proved to us all that this is what education is all about."

Julie Pearson from KidsTuskForce UK said: “Ivy Lane is one of the happiest schools I have ever visited and to hear the children singing made me feel extremely emotional.

"All their efforts were outstanding.”