More than 1,000 pupils from a Didcot school headed for the hills to raise thousands for Oxford Children's Hospital appeal.

Every student at St Birinus Boys' School braved the torrential downpours to take part in a sponsored walk on Friday.

The event, marking the school's 70th anniversary, aimed to raise £5,000 for the Chox appeal and a further £5,000 for its link school in The Gambia.

More than 200 Year Seven pupils were taken by coach to Dorchester Abbey - the spiritual home of St Birinus - and made their way back to the school through Little Wittenham, Brightwell cum Sotwell, South Moreton and East Hagbourne.

The rest of the students walked a circular route from the school along the cycle way to Upton and on to the Ridgeway, before returning via Blewbury and East Hagbourne.

Chox fundraiser and Didcot Sixth Form student Andrew Baker, 18, said: "This was a great event organised by the school not only to celebrate such a special milestone, but also our continuing commitment towards the Chox campaign."

It is a cause with special meaning for Mr Baker, who underwent major brain surgery at Oxford's Radcliffe Infirmary five years ago.

He has set a fundraising target of £20,000 and the school is already well on its way.

Mr Baker said the school had collected more than £4,850 for Chox in the last three years.

He added: "If £10,000 is raised as the target, then that will be a further £5,000 donated to the cause - and £5,000 to our link school in The Gambia."

Other Chox fundraising events at the school have included a 60s, 70s and 80s dress day and a novelty tie day.

On Saturday, the Oxford Mail revealed how the public had raised £2.5m towards the Children's Hospital - which will open in January.

Headteacher Chris Bryan said the response from pupils had been magnificent.

He added: "This will be a great way for us to celebrate our anniversary year.

"The core values of the school are care, courtesy and commitment, so this event put our words into action."

St Birinus School opened in 1936 and the original building is still in use today, along with new buildings that have been added as the school expanded.

Mr Bryan said its surroundings had also changed over the years.

He said when the school first opened the site in Mereland Road was on the edge of the town, surrounded by fields and pupils could hear the steam trains on the railway line from Didcot to Newbury which ran nearby.

All the pupils who completed Friday's walk received a special commemorative gift to mark their achievement.