CHILDREN from North Newton Primary School have forged a new friendship with a London school after it offered to help raise money for the pupils affected by flooding.

Head teacher David Gliddon was surprised to be contacted by Coleridge Primary School in London whose Year Six children have been monitoring the floods and its impact on families.

The children at the London school felt so awful about the situation that they have arranged to hold a Bring and Buy sale on March 28, a disco and a staff car wash to raise money for the children at North Newton.

Mr Gliddon said: "We have forged links with this previously unknown school in London and this has proved how widespread the support for Somerset flood victims really is and especially from a child’s viewpoint."

Writing in her blog, Coleridge head teacher Shirley Boffey said: "I was very heartened and touched today when some of our Year Six boys came to see me with a plan to raise some money for a school in Somerset where a lot of the pupils had been evacuated from flooded houses.

"It is wonderful to witness the strength of feeling that young people can have for injustice and fairness and this was demonstrated loudly and clearly by these children."

Mr Gliddon asked Karen Langford, a parent family support worker at the school, to speak with North Newton pupils most affected by the floods.

Ms Langford said: "The children started to chat amongst themselves about where they were living, what had happened to their pets, not having school uniform and eating different food for breakfast and most importantly not being able to sleep in their own beds.

"When I asked what had been the most 'scary thing' they all said the police helicopter hovering overhead. They described being 'really frightened' waking up and hearing the roar of the engine overhead and the loudspeaker telling them to leave their homes straight away.

"One girl described her feelings about being separated from her siblings and mum and dad who were staying to try and protect the property from intruders.

"I could sense their anxiety; however they were supporting each other by talking about it, and creating their own support networks showing great courage which was humbling to see.”