TEACHERS and pupils have raised nearly £1,500 for an overseas expedition with a sponsored row.

Four staff and 16 sixth formers from St Leonard’s Catholic School, in Durham City, took to rowing machines in the Metro Centre, Gateshead, to row 321km, which is the length of the River Tyne.

Between them, they rowed for nearly ten hours and raised £1,465.

The money will go to pay for a school visit to Indonesia and towards Operation Wallacea, a network of academics who work to preserve biodiversity across the world.

PE teacher Michael Hughes praised shoppers for their support of the challenge

He said: “The day was a huge success, despite the early start during the final days of our school holidays.

“We were touched by the generosity of the public and at how interested and supportive they were of our charity and expedition.”