PUPILS from a Bingley school stepped out to raise more than £4,500 for a hospital.

A group of 256 children aged 11 and 12 from Bingley Grammar School took part in a 5k sponsored walk to boost funds for Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The walk took in Crossflatts and followed the canal towpath past the Five Rise Locks to Bingley, before returning to the school.

The group’s total of £4,561 will be spent on specialist equipment for children and teenage patients on BRI’S new paediatric wards. This beat last year’s total of £4,346 for the same walk.

The link between BRI and Bingley Grammar School was made through Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust paediatrician Simon Frazer, who spoke about BRI’s new £28 million hospital wing with staff at a school transition event.

Dr Frazer said: “Once again, the support of Bingley Grammar School is outstanding and the children and staff should be really proud of their efforts.

“Just like last year, the funds raised from this latest walk will be used to enhance the new children’s wards, contributing to specialist equipment for a multi-sensory room for children with complex needs, enhancing a multi-function room for dining and play as well as adolescent rest facilities, and ensuring each bed station is as homely as possible.”

The school’s top fundraisers were presented with goody bags and an invitation for a tour of the new hospital wing and other areas of the hospital including the simulation centre, where students will be able to take part in assessments.

Adele Roberts, Bingley Grammar School’s head of Year Seven, said: “Year Seven always makes me proud but to see students engaged and enjoying our sponsored walk was an amazing experience.

“Hundreds of students took part and represented themselves, our school community and Bradford Royal Infirmary. This shows how the school contributes, cares and supports others. We were amazed by the amount of money raised last year and this year our current Year Seven students have raised even more.”