WITH packed lunch in hand and new cap proudly on his head, Andrew Ibbotson set off for school not wanting to be late on his first day.

But as he walked down the street he had to put up with sniggers at his short trousers and Action Man sandwich box.

For Andrew is really a 32-year-old customer service manager for Barclays Bank and was spending the day at Royles Brook Primary in Thornton, where he is a member of the PTFA, to raise money for school funds.

The father-of-two explained: "I wanted to do something which was a bit different but also easy, so I joined the reception class.

The teacher really entered into the spirit of things by telling the class the day before that a new boy was starting.

"Once I'd got over the hard part of walking down the street, I lined up in the playground with the other children, joined in registration and had my milk and packed lunch with them.

"The only part I didn't enjoy was drawing because I'm hopeless at it.

"My art work hasn't improved since I was five."

Andrew, from Waring Drive, also became an instant hit with his new classmates.

"They really looked after me," he said.

"At break-time all the girls wanted to hold my hand in the playground which was quite sweet.

"I ended up with about five on each arm.

"We thought my being there might disrupt them but they were all very well behaved."

The stunt also meant he could spend some time with his sons James, five, and Joseph, eight.

"James was up for it from the start, but Joseph was embarrassed at first.

"I spent an hour in his class and he got more and more into the idea."

Unfortunately, Andrew had to walk home on his own - his mother couldn't be there to meet him and the boys were staying behind to play football!

The money raised has not yet been counted up but his bank, Barclays in Birley Street, Blackpool, will match whatever he makes.

"All the money will go into the school funds but I would like to buy something specific with it, such as a computer, if there is enough money," he said.

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