CHILDREN at Drove Primary School have pledged to fill 160 Smarties’ tubes with cash in a bid to collect £2,400 for the Adver’s 160 Appeal for Prospect Hospice.

Pupils as young as three have volunteered to raise the sum by encouraging their families to donate as many 20p coins as possible. Some have even set out to earn the cash for their hard work by offering their services doing odd jobs around the house.

Each week until May 23 the money will be placed in the emptied Smarties’ tubes until they are full and ready to be presented to the Wroughton charity.

Lorraine Jeffery, a nursery teacher at the school, who is also responsible for citizenship and the student council, said: “Our 600 pupils are involved and they are very happy to be doing it.

“Each full tube is worth £15 and if every child brings in 20p a week we should just about fill them. We also have staff donating money.

“There is even a competition between teachers about whose class is going to get the most money. It’s friendly rivalry.

“We just think it’s a fantastic cause and we always encourage children to support charities and help others.”

To mark its 160th birthday the Swindon Advertiser launched the 160 Appeal in February to raise £160,000 for Prospect Hospice.

Madiha, eight, said she was confident the school would reach its target.

“We want to help people with illness that can’t go away,” she said. “I think raising the money is going to be fun and I hope we can fill all the tubes.”

Edsel, six, said: “We need to get many 20ps and fill the tubes to help these people who are very poorly.”

Once the pupils manage to fill the Smarties’ tubes, they will be able to munch on the sweets they had contained themselves.

l If you are a school who would like to get involved in the fundraising please contact the enwsdesk on 01793 501806 or email 160appeal@swindonadvertiser.

co.uk.