STUDENTS actors have raised £600 for two North Yorkshire military charities by staging a play about underage soldiers.

Ethan Wright and Joe Moss, both 15, have given Royal British Legion and the Catterick-based Army Benevolent Fund £300 each after taking part in drama The Pals, which was written by their teacher James Bovington.

Ethan, who has also raised £800 for a Leeds cenotaph through a sponsored swim, said they had been pleased to visit Masham - near to where the Leeds Pals trained and hoped the money would make life easier for service personnel who made sacrifices.

Joe added: “Being in The Pals and then visiting the battlefields with the other lads made me realise the enormity of it all and we are proud of our own efforts which should help people who are even today still suffering from the after effects of conflict.”

Mr Bovington said the effort that the boys and the rest of the cast from Horsforth School, Leeds, made showed the gratitude that youngsters and the wider community have for those willing to take great personal risk in the cause of peace and freedom.