£1,000 raised for victims

Blue Coat School pupils with some of the toiletries they collected for the victims of the Manchester attack from left) back Max Butterworth, Charlotte Blakeney, Jack Payton (front) Ridhiya Shaji, Jessica Kelly, Leah Williams, Kirsty Idoko

BLUE Coat School raised nearly £1,000 for the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing - who include the mothers of three of its pupils.

Year 13 students wore pink buttonholes as a mark on respect on their final day of school on Friday, and at their prom in Manchester on the same day.

Others pupils bought pink wristbands - with proceeds going to the fund for the victims of the attack - and toiletries were donated for people being treated in hospital. Pupils and staff also wrote messages of support on a prayer tree.

Lisa Lees, whose daughter India is in year ten at the school, died in the attack with friend Alison Howe, whose daughters Sasha and Darcie are in years 13 and 10.

Assistant head teacher Tony Ballantyne said: "Blue Coat School was particularly affected by events in the Manchester Arena.

"In common with many other schools, we wanted to do something special on Friday that emphasised our community."