TARANTULA biscuits, old clothing and a sprightly head teacher have helped a North Yorkshire primary school raise more than £700 for charity.

Pupils from West Heslerton Primary School baked biscuits in the shape of creepy crawlies, snails and cats and sold them to parents during a coffee morning for Macmillan Cancer Relief. They raised £42.

"The children got really involved and certainly the parents really appreciated the biscuits."

The school also raided wardrobes and cupboards for old clothes to sell to a company that re-use, recycle or burns them to create energy. They collected 1,420kg and raised £71 for the Great North Air Ambulance and £284 to pay for a "trim trail" activity centre in the playground.

Head teacher Rachel Wells tackled the Great North Run, raising £340 for the trim trail.

"It was very good. I did it in 2hrs 38min. I ran most of it with a man in a purple fairy outfit," said Mrs Wells.

Updated: 09:54 Tuesday, October 19, 2004