CHILDREN, staff and parents at Cornwood Primary School have run, walked, cycled and swum to Downing Street and back – and been rewarded with a letter from the Prime Minister.

For a triathlon day at the school – raising funds for a new cover for the swimming pool – pupils decided to set the target distance as 217 miles, the distance to 10 Downing Street.

Pupils were inspired to persevere by a visit from school parent and Invictus Games cyclist Trevor Vernalls, who took part in the day and added his own 20 miles to the total.

Sarah Williams, chair of the Parents and Teachers Assoc-iation and a teaching assistant at the school, said that the children had been particularly interested in the General Election this year.

She continued: 'All the children had to run or walk at least 10 laps of our playing field which equalled a mile, and cycle or scoot the same distance. Each class then swam in our pool.

'By lunchtime with the parents' help we had achieved our target of 217 miles, so we challenged ourselves to keep going, and get us all the way back.

'The children worked even harder, and again with the parents' support we achieved our goal of 434 miles by 3.10pm.'

Sarah added: 'I emailed 10 Downing Street and received a reply, which we read out to all of the children at the end of the day.

It was very exciting.

'I really would like to thank the children and the parents for their support in making it such a memorable day for the school.

'We are now in the process of collecting the sponsor monies, and hopefully we will be able to replace the cover of our pool very soon.'