LOVE was certainly in the air for Ramsbottom's Good Samaritans who marked Valentine's Day by raising a glass of champagne and more than £170 for a South African school.

Nearly 50 love-struck locals enjoyed a fund-raising champagne breakfast at the Good Samaritan pub in Peel Brow to raise much-needed money for Magalese School, near Johannesburg, as part of the One World One Future Project.

Project co-ordinator Mrs Noelene Searles said: "This was the second champagne breakfast we have organised to raise money. We had expected 38 people but 46 turned up instead!

"The guests enjoyed a full English breakfast, washed down by champagne and together with the raffles, which have a top prize of a flight over Ramsbottom, we have so far raised £173.

"As well as raising money for the school, the event managed to raise awareness of the project and to drum up support for it. Many expressed a willingness to help the children at the school."

The project has the backing of Peel Brow Primary School, where Mrs Searles runs the after-school club. As well as helping with the fund-raising efforts, the school is establishing strong links with pupils at Magalese by writing letters to them.