PUPILS from Bury C of E High School deployed paddle power during a sponsored canoe session at the Burrs Activity Centre.

And the youngsters, attached to the school's Children of Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, were joined in the event by Barclays Bank employee Paul Smiles.

Barclay's is helping the children by generously matching pound for pound, up to £750, money raised by the pupils.

The sponsored canoe was the latest activity in the Trust's fund-raising endeavours which they call "Aruba 2001: the Windmill Project".

Group member, 15-year-old Richard Pester, said: "With help from Paul and Barclay's, we hope to raise in excess of £1,000. It will certainly go a long way towards helping us realise our target of £10,000."

The group has already paid for a permanent water borehole in Kenya's Tsavo East Park and a windmill on the Ndara Plains.

Their latest effort will source another borehole and windmill at Aruba Dam.