THE ice-bucket challenge has "bean" replaced...

School pals Rebecca Jones and Abigail Earnshaw have come up with their own take on the challenge, which involves having a bucket of beans poured over your head instead.

They came up with the idea to raise money for Village Pre-School Playgroup in Little Lever, where yobs vandalised play equipment.

Children at the playgroup in Little Lever returned from the Easter break to find that a climbing frame, a wooden reindeer made by a grandparent of one of the youngsters and football goalposts had all been damaged.

So upset was Rebecca at hearing what had happened, she wanted to do something which would raise money to buy new equipment for the children.

And on Friday, the two 13-year-old Little Lever High School girls had 60 cans of Tesco baked beans poured over them — which had been donated by the store — to cries of yuk from staff, pupils, family and members of the playgroup watching.

Head of Christie House, Rachel Ford, paid £10 for the pleasure of pouring a can of beans over the two girls.

Rebecca said: "When I heard what had happened, I just thought how awful it was for the children to see that and I wanted to raise money for them.

"We thought the baked bean challenge would be fun and we would get more support."

She added: "Our target is £100 but we have possibly raised more than that."

Speaking after the challenge, Rebecca said: "It was disgusting — but it was worth it."

Abigail added: "When Rebecca said she wanted to organise something I said I would do too — whatever it was.

"It is so important to support the group — children like to play and they would have been so upset to come back after the holidays to see what had happened."

And after the challenge, Abigail said: "I hate beans — but I would do it again for a good cause."

The nursery has had offers of help from the community to replace items in the playground.

Jane Harrison, from the pre-school, said: "We just feel overwhelmed with the support we have had and what these two have done.

"We think that teenagers caused the damage, so this just shows that those who do things like that are in a minority, because these two are teenagers and have supported us by doing this."

Miss Ford said: "I am so proud of the girls — it was their idea and it has been fantastic.

"We have done sponsored skips and other events, but this has been the weirdest one we have done so far."

Friend of the pair, Kira Ratcliffe, aged 13, said: "I thought it was really funny — I think the teachers should do it next."