A POPULAR children's past time was put to good charitable use at a Worth Valley school this month.

Pupils at Oxenhope Primary enjoyed taking part in the Save the Children Den Day initiative between June 2 and June 5.

They were sponsored to build dens out of all kinds of materials both indoors and outdoors.

A spokesman for the school explained: "During the week the children brought in den building donations which will all be sent to Save the Children to support their work.

"The idea of building a den is very apt in light of the recent earthquakes in Nepal, when we see people living in temporary structures constructed with whatever they can find."

The Oxenhope pupils were told how a donation of as little as £5 could buy books for five children who have had to leave their homes and become refugees, while £95 is enough to buy a kit to help a family protect their temporary shelter against the weather.

The spokesman added: "Our children had lots of fun, worked together, learned about people who don't have safe places to live and raised money to help in the process.

"We don't have a final total yet, but we hope to have raised lots of money for Save the Children, and also to have developed our pupils' understanding of issues affecting children around the world."