A school has celebrated its half century with a 1,000 charity gift.

St Andrew's School in Wantage marked its 50th anniversary by donating the cash to the Helen House Hospice in Leopold Street, east Oxford.

The cash was raised at a charity ball and other events at the Wallingford Street-based preparatory school, and handed over to the charity in a special assembly on Friday.

Pupils have also celebrated the anniversary with a "street party" in the playground, a balloon release and tree planting.

School secretary Cathy McGoogan said: "The celebrations have been wonderful and the children have enjoyed them."

She said the school had seen many changes in its lifetime and had gone through a major expansion. She added: "It has expanded from just 25 children to 85. The facilities are much better and our academic standard is high.

The children do very well."