A WET and windy trek by primary school pupils yesterday could raise up to £4,000 for mental health charity Mind.

The 153 pupils from Cricklade Manor Prep, aged three to 12, walked a mixture 3,000, 6,000 and 12,000 metres, totalling 1000 km in one day.

The half-day trek came up against Storm Erik that lashed parts of the UK with 70 mph winds and heavy rain.

It capped off a week-long awareness week on teaching children about mental and emotional resilience and how sport and exercise can play a part in keeping them mentally, as well as physically well.

The week included a visit from a paralympian and gold medalist Rachael Morris OBE on Monday.

James Barton, organiser and the school wellness officer, said: "It was always going to be a difficult experience for them to walk that distance, it's been very wet and slippery.

"I've been really impressed with the children, and the parents have been delighted."

Teacher Palak Heywood added: "As a school we are really aware of mental health. Instead of telling them off we will find out why they are feeling that way and support them. If you don't have happy children they don't learn."

Each pupil fundraised £15 for mental health charity Mind, making up to £2,000, to be fund matched by Utility Warehouse.

Pupil Madeline, aged nine, said: "It was really challenging but doing it with my friends didn't make it tough, when I got to the end and saw Cricklade I got really excited."

Henke, aged seven, added: "It was really muddy and you got very dirty. I was proud of myself, and also soaking wet."