STUDENTS and staff at a Darlington sixth form college abandoned their normal clothes to dress up as St Trinian's schoolgirls on Tuesday.

The fun event at Queen Elizabeth sixth form college raised more than £600 for charity and also helped the new arrivals settle in.

Many of the 750 students left their jeans, sweatshirts and casual wear at home, and arrived at the college wearing traditional, if modified, schoolgirl uniforms.

The event was a team effort but students Helen Swanwick and Alan Strickland, both of Aycliffe Village, Radhika Shah, of Darlington, and Pippa Makin, of Maltby, were thanked for their particular help.

Helen Swanwick, of the student association, said: "It was a really fun day and we raised a lot of money for Butterwick hospice.

"We hoped that everybody, both staff and students, would join in and people dug out their old school uniforms and hockey sticks. It was great."

Commenting on the colourful spectacle, receptionist Mrs Alison Huggins said some of the boys were particularly well turned out. "Some of them were outstanding. One lad was wearing a really nice black wig and a fairly short skirt. I've got to say he was stunning," she joked.

Even the college caretaker, Mr Peter Hakin, got into the spirit of things. He wore a skirt and his overall appearance was described by Mrs Huggins as "wonderful".

Assistant principle Mrs Anita Blackburn said: "Teaching and support staff also joined in. They wore fishnet stockings and old-fashioned school caps. It was an amazing sight."