Kind-hearted students from a High Wycombe school have been praised for raising more than £1,400 for Thames Valley Air Ambulance. 

The Highcrest Academy raised the cash over the last academic year after pupils chose the air ambulance as their charity of the year for 2016-17.

Donations were collected thanks to events such as a supermarket bag pack, a milkshake sale, non-uniform days and an Easter egg raffle.

And the highlight of the year came when 11 students were sent to RAF Benson on a fact-finding mission to meet the ambulance crews.

Paul Shaw, assistant head teacher, said: “We were thrilled to work with this charity over the last year and our pupils worked so hard to raise money. They really did feel passionate about the work of the air ambulance and we are very proud of their efforts.”

Sarah Sharkey, of Thames Valley Air Ambulance, added: “It’s been fantastic to have worked with Highcrest Academy this year as their chosen charity.

“The partnership has allowed TVAA to raise awareness of our life-saving work with the younger generation and offer them the opportunity to learn about the service that we provide.

“A huge thank you to the students for raising life-saving funds and maybe we will work with Highcrest again in the future.” 

The school is now set to choose another charitiy for the coming academic year.