DRINKERS have donated their beer money to help a primary school buy sports and music equipment.

The John Smith's brewery has given £700 to Mount Pleasant Primary School, Clayton-le-Moors, after holding a series of fundraising events.

The brewery's pubs and clubs across the north have been holding charity events such as golf days and race nights to raise money for local causes.

Around £3,000 has been raised in total and is currently being distributed across Lancashire.

John Smith's regional manger Natalie Toome, said: "It was only fair that we asked the people who raised the money where they wanted it to go. Mount Pleasant was put forward as an ideal recipient for some of the cash.

"When people are holding an event and they know the money is going to go back into their local community, especially to children, then always put that extra bit of effort in."

The money has bought football strips for two teams, netball strips for two teams and 35 recorders for music lessons. A portion of the money has also been reserved for some new climbing equipment which the younger pupils will be able to use as well.

With a small sum left over the children were allowed to decide what they wanted to buy and they decided on a set of special sports water bottles.

Head teacher Anne Duke said: "They have seen the sports stars like David Beckham drinking from them on the pitch and then throwing them back to their water carriers. They think they are really trendy - but they are also really useful."

Sports captain Zoe Oldham, 10, explained: "If we start to get dehydrated then we can have a drink and we are ready to carry on playing."

Co-captain Emma Green, also 10, added: "Sometimes we need to get a quick drink at half-time and these bottles are really good."

Mrs Duke continued: "At the end of the day these are things that we could not have got ourselves.

"We have a set budget each year and it is very rare that we can afford items like this. These are icing-on-the-cake items, all of which have been on our wish list."