YOUNGSTERS have helped raise funds for their new school by writing their names for posterity on the new building.

The 44 pupils at Grewelthorpe Church of England Primary School, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, each paid £1 to write their names and draw pictures on the wall of the school building, before it is plastered.

Pupils and staff are expecting to leave their present 126-year-old building and move into the premises in mid-May.

More than half the £410,000 cost of the premises has been raised by the school and its governors.

The wall-writing exercise - the latest in a series of imaginative fundraising efforts - raised £60, which will be used to buy equipment for the playground, which the children will select.

Headteacher Vanessa Oldfield said: "The children had a look around the building and loved the wall-writing idea.

"Everyone is getting very excited and cannot wait to move in"

The building is being designed and built by Thirsk firm Severfield-Reeve Projects.

Managing director Lindsay Ross said: "This has been a fantastic community project by the people of Grewelthorpe.

"The building work has progressed well and I look forward to visiting when they move in."