Students took part in a "heart-warming" week of talent shows, spelling bees and chores at home to raise nearly £1,000 for a charity campaigning to abolish child marriage.

Pupils from years one to six at Ewell Castle Junior School, in Church Street, Ewell, generated the funds for Plan-UK, which supports the abolition of children marriage and campaigns for education for all through its ‘Because I’m a Girl campaign.

Michelle Phillips, headteacher, said: "You think you’ve seen it all after 25 years in education but I was really moved by the children’s efforts, seeing shy individuals stand and sing or pupils determined to remember 50 extremely challenging words.

"It was genuinely heart-warming.

"The week proved a great success and culminated with inspirational speakers for pupils and parents alike with talks from Leah Wilkinson, hockey player and contender for the next Olympics and celebrated novelist Adele Parks who waived her fee to support the cause."