MORE than 1,000 young people walked for two hours to take their school half way to a £600,000 cash injection.

Kingsdown School in Swindon staged a sponsored walk as part of its drive to secure Technology College status.

The move would involve the Government providing £600,000, but funding rules mean the school must raise £50,000 on its own initiative.

The sponsored walk is thought to have raised more than £9,000, which will be added to the £15,000 already raised by other events.

Parents, friends and friends of parents were asked to pledge their cash support.

Assistant head teacher Gerry Cranfield said: "Just over 1,000 of our students walked for two hours around Stanton Fitzwarren Park.

"We don't yet know the total raised, but it looks like £9,000-plus."

It is thought that some of the faster walkers covered eight miles or more during the latest event, which was held last Friday.