CHILDREN at Hamble Primary School are ditching their pens and picking up a skipping rope to raise money for charity.

The youngsters will be skipping collectively for five hours as part of the British Heart Foundation's Jump Rope for Heart challenge.

Every pupil at the 300-strong Hamble Lane school will skip for about 20 minutes on Thursday, and any child who raises more than £50 in sponsorship will get a special British Heart Foundation bag.

Three quarters of the money raised will go to the British Heart Foundation, and the remaining money will be kept by the school.

To support the children, contact Jessica Sunley-Smith on 023 8045 3298.