A SKYDIVING mother has presented a school with money to replace a bench in memory of her airman son.

Christine Wilson took part in the stunt at Shotton Airfield earlier this month, four years to the day that her son Andrew died in a fall at the same airfield.

In total she raised more than £1,200 in sponsorship, and today returned to Andrew's old school, St Helen Auckland Community Primary School.

She handed over £405.50 which will be used to install a new friendship bench' in the playground, to replace one which was vandalised last year.

The money for the original bench had been raised by Andrew's former colleagues at 34 Squadron RAF Regiment, at RAF Leeming, who auctioned off his kit in regimental tradition.

They raised more funds towards replacing the bench in December last year with a 24-hour row, and Mrs Wilson's contribution will mean the school can afford to pay for a new bench.

Headteacher Maeve Mackenzie said: "It will be great to see the bench resurrected. It's for when children are needing a friend, or for someone to sit knowing that someone will come and sit with them."

Mrs Wilson, 61, who also raised money for the Great North Air Ambulance and the Selby Close Social Club, which she helps to run, said: "The money for the original bench was donated by the RAF so it is fantastic to get it back up again."