YOUNGSTERS at Bolton School Junior Boys were on their marks for a charity run which raised funds to tackle motor neurone disease — the same condition which recently claimed the life of former pupil Sir Harry Kroto.

About 200 pupils from Year 3 to Year 6 ran a relay race in fancy dress, with all manner of costumes on display including James Bond, footballers, Star Wars characters and super heroes.

The charity run raised funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, and is expected to have raised several thousand pounds.

It was selected following a donation from the family of former pupil Simon Binner, who died from the disease last year, and was made more poignant following the death of Sir Harry Kroto, a Nobel prize-winning scientist.

Sir Harry was awarded the 1996 chemistry Nobel prize, along with Robert Curl and Richard Smalley, for the discovery of Buckminsterfullerene molecule — known as bucky-balls — and was knighted the same year.

The discovery led to the development of new materials and revolutionised civil engineering.

Mr Kroto was born in Cambridgeshire to parents who left Germany as refugees during the Second World War.

The family moved to Bolton, living in Arkwright Street. Sir Harry won a scholarship to Bolton School where he was a contemporary of Sir Ian McKellen.

He died aged 76 earlier this month.

Pupils have recently been learning about this devastating disease and funds raised will go towards funding further research into finding a cure.

Headteacher Susan Faulkner said: "The annual Charity Fun Run is a much anticipated and highly enjoyable event.

"However, behind all the fun is a very serious message about the responsibility we have to support worthy causes in need of help.

"This year's chosen charity is particularly significant to us as a school and I am pleased that the boys chose it because this is such a poorly understood disease with relatively little publicity and fundraising to support it.

"If we can help the MND Association in some small way, both in their research work and in supporting those with this illness, I will be very proud indeed."