BURY school pupils winged their way to Barton Airfield for a novel "air" raising experience.

The pupils, attached to the Bury C of E High School's "Children of Sheldrick Wildlife Trust," took part in an innovative fund-raising venture by washing planes.

The Trust raises cash for a national park in Kenya and already the children have helped fund a windmill and other resources for the park.

At Barton, the pupils washed two-seater Cessna 150s. Group member James Mullineux (14), said: "The event was a great success and it had the added thrill of us washing a plane. "We've done car washes before, washed a bus and a fire engine but never anything this big."

Combined with an earlier canoeing event at Burrs, Bury, the group has managed to raise in excess of £600 for their worthy cause.

The wash was followed by a tour of the airfield, hangars, control tower and neighbouring grounds which included a World War Two air raid shelter.

Lucky group member Simon Ellison (16), even got to ride in a plane for collecting the most sponsorship, a total of £92 from friends and family.

He said: "It was incredible. I've never done anything like this in my life. I even got to fly the plane for a little while and I flew over my house."

The group is raising money for another windmill at the Tsavo East National Park in Kenya to power a bore hole which will provide fresh water for animals and people in the area.

Chairman of Lancashire Aero Club Peter Smith, who helped arrange the tour, gave each pupil a commemorative pen as a souvenir of their day.