ELLESMERE Primary School pupils kept their eyes on the ball for charity recently when they took on a mammoth 40-hour ‘footballathon’.

Over the course of a week, all children from Nursery through to Year 6 took their turn in a hotly-fought contest between blues and yellows.

Heading into the final hours there was still just a single goal separating the sides, but the final whistle saw team yellow take the win.

The sponsored match, which was part of the English Schools' FA Football Week, raised more than £1,670 for the school PTA and Air Ambulance UK.

Hazel Adams, PE Lead at the school, said: “I am very proud of the way everybody worked as a team.

"Everyone was able to have a go and it was truly a whole school effort.

“The children have been enjoying themselves and the Ellesmere Wildcats Centre (girls FA football programme), which we host here at school, have had an influx of new girls joining the centre this week.

“The 40 hours were made up of curriculum time PE as well as the additional extracurricular clubs we run each morning, lunchtime and after school so children played from 7.45am-4.15pm every day.”

Stuart Roberts, headteacher, at the Elson Road school added: “It was great to see the children having fun and it was very noticeable that they had all grown in confidence on the pitch by the end of the week.

“The funds will be put to good use, buying new climbing frame equipment for the school.

“We also wanted to support Air Ambulance UK, who have been active on lifesaving missions in our area recently.”