SMARTIES all round. Pupils at Abottswood School, Totton, were given educational books as well as tubes of sweets when they visited their local Asda store.

The 250 packets of Smarties were lapped up by the kids but the exercise had a serious purpose as well.

Each pupil must collect 5p coins in the empty tubes, which will help pay for an improved perimeter fence round their school in Ringwood Road.

Asda spokesman Liz Bennett said: "The school approached us to ask for help in fixing their fence to help keep out vandals. We decided it was a good local cause and we were glad to help.

"We also gave them 38 copies of Will Power books, which are designed to help children aged 7-11 understand about the dangers of drugs, drink and smoking."

Deputy head teacher Laurie Anderson said everyone at the school was grateful to Asda customers for their support.

"We want to replace our metre-high perimeter fence with a higher one to try to keep vandals off the site.

"It is very upsetting for the children to come in and see damage at their school - windows broken, even a tree stripped of bark so it will have to be cut down," she said.

"We need more than £20,000 for the new fence, so we are having to do a lot of fundraising."