The Crossley Heath pupils got out and about for community and sports events including gardening, litter-picking and visiting a residential home.

They were sponsored to try new activities to raise money for the school's sports hall.

About 700 students took part, completing four challenges each.

After a run, walk or stroll around Savile Park moor, the students litter-picked around Albert Promenade, gardened for Savile Park Primary School, The Gleddings School and St Augustine's Church, and developed the Crossley Heath school garden.

They played games with the elderly at Alexander House Residential Home and people with learning disabilities, and wrote morale boosting letters to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Some gave tennis, skipping, rounders, touch rugby, streetdance and Gaelic football a try.

There were cookery sessions, a live Calderdale broadcast with Phoenix Radio, and actor Paul Opacic held a drama workshop.

Lunch was barbecue-style, with burgers and sausages, and strawberries and cream, eaten in the open.

Debbie Parkinson, executive leader for business and community, said: "In addition to fun sporting and non-sporting activities we felt it was important to do some- thing useful in the community that day.

"After consultation with various organizations, community groups requested help in a variety of ways.

"Hopefully as well as having fun the pupils developed new skills, and learned a lot about our local community. It helped them appreciate what they have got."

The aim of the day was to raise cash for the £2.3 million sports hall project. So far the school has raised £250,000 but still needs to find another £300,000 to meet its fund-raising target.

The day was supported by B&Q and Tesco, which gave gardening tools and vouchers for prizes.