A SCHOOL run was a riot of colour as children covered themselves in paint to raise money for charity.

Belmont Cheveley Park Primary School, Durham, held a colour run as the first in a series of events aimed at supporting St Cuthbert’s Hospice.

Inspired by the charity’s annual Colourama run, which takes place in June, pupils decided to hold their own event as its first fundraiser.

Around 220 children from the school and nursery were showered with paint as they took part in the obstacle race around the school’s field.

So far around £800 has been raised for the charity, which provides care for people with terminal illnesses in Durham and Chester-le-Street.

Teacher Lauren Sanderson said: “The children have been talking about it for weeks and they’ve been so excited.

“We’re so grateful for all the support we’ve had from parents and grandparents and carers who have been helping with all the things we do for charity.”

She added: “We’re a small primary school and we wanted to support somewhere local. The school council decided on St Cuthbert’s because one of the children knew someone who had been there and he knew they needed a lot of money.

“They went to visit and had a tour and met some of the volunteers and they came back with very different ideas about what a hospice is.”

The school is planning other events to raise money for the hospice during the next 12 months.