PUPILS totalling 900 are pulling on their trainers to walk round their school in a bid to raise funds for specialist status.

It is the latest initiative by Pleckgate High School, Blackburn, which has already raised £30,000 of a £50,000 target to achieve the government's specialist computing and mathematics status.

And today head-teacher Robin Campbell urged old boys and girls of the school to come forward and join the fundraising bid placing the school "at the heart of the community".

The one-mile sponsored walk on July 9 has been organised for the summer holidays to encourage pupils to walk as far as possible.

John Horlock, walk co-ordinator and PE teacher, said: "After discussions between staff we came up with the idea of a walk so that everyone feels part of the bid and not that it is just for the benefit of one faculty."

Mr Campbell said he was as determined as ever to see the Pleckgate Road school gain the first Maths specialist status in East Lancashire.

It will create an extra £126 per pupil every year for the next four years from the government to develop the speciality, along with a one-off £100,000 to fund a capital project.

He said: "We are really doing well since launching the bid in January.

"All the fundraising, from non-uniform days to packing in supermarkets, has been done this term.

"Parents and local businesses have been superb. Now we want past pupils to help out with this last push.

"The whole school and community will benefit form this and that is why they are all involved.

"When we are successful 40 per cent of the funding will be devoted to developing initiatives for the community."