SCHOOLS in the Cheddar area have now raised more than £18,000 for needy communities in Africa.

SCHOOLS in the Cheddar area have now raised more than £18,000 for needy communities in Africa.

As part of the Promise to Africa scheme, which was launched in September 2006, the 12 schools in the Cheddar Valley cluster have raised the money to provide facilities such as extra classrooms and training for teachers for the Masindi District in Uganda.

The money has been raised through non-uniform days and fund-raising events held throughout the past year.

Cheddar and Lympsham First Schools held a sponsored run and walk and Draycott and Rodney Stoke and East Brent First Schools baked cakes to sell on a stall. Children in Shipham sold old toys and books to raise money and pupils at Wedmore First School held a collection for the project at their harvest festival.

Last December, Kings of Wessex School in Cheddar held a charity week and mad fund-raising capers such as Ordeal or No Deal and their own version of The Weakest Link ran alongside an egg-throwing competition.

The Promise to Africa project was set up to celebrate 30 years of the Cheddar Valley education system.