Enterprising families are hoping to turn £10 handouts into hundreds of pounds of profits for a primary school.

The imaginative initiative saw £600 distributed to 60 families with children at Fir Tree Primary School in Wallingford.

The families are being encouraged to use it to generate more money for school funds.

The Fir Tree Challenge, which launched in July with cash from the Parent-Teacher Association, still has six weeks to run.

So far, only 12 families have completed their tasks, but the scheme has already raised more than the original £600.

The money will be used to provide a new outside play area at the school.

Headteacher Lee Ryman said: "There were worries initially that the money might not work, but it's been a great success. The idea is to at least double the money -- but most people have gone far beyond that. One family in Benson had a fun day and raised more than £200, another did a car boot sale using the £10 to pay for the pitch and they made over £100."

Others have washed cars, or done sporting challenges.

Ms Ryman is now planning her own challenge.

"Everyone has been so enthusiastic so we can't have the head failing to come up with the goods," she said.