YOUNGSTERS who stayed silent for 15 minutes to help a cancer charity have collected more than £1,000.

Children at St John's Primary School, in Shildon, raised £1,126.50 for the Macmillan Cancer Charity after taking part in a Sponsored Hush in February.

The event had a special place in the hearts of the children, whose teacher, Jackie Colledge, died from cancer.

Specialist support assistant Wendy Marchant said she was proud of the children's effort.

She said: "I have contacted the charity to tell them how much we have raised and they have said that our school has raised the most money so far in the North-East. I am delighted.''

The children who raised the most money in each section of the school were given rewards.

Morgan and Declan Walton raised the most in the nursery classes, Leah Toms collected the most in the infants, and Rachel Wilson and Bethany Joyce raised the most money in the juniors section.