PRIMARY school teacher Paul Hooson has run the Berlin Marathon for the NSPCC - inspiring his pupils to carry out their own fundraising.

Mr Hooson, a teacher at Westbrook Lane Primary in Horsforth, has raised £1,168 for the children’s charity which works to end child abuse.

The teacher, who is also an expectant father, finished the race in 4 hours 28 minutes and 42 seconds.

He said: "I am so delighted that I managed to complete the Marathon which is an amazing event with an incredible atmosphere. I look back on my childhood with really happy memories and it saddens me that that is not the case for so many children."

The pupils at Westbrook Lane were so impressed by their teacher’s achievement they set themselves the task of completing sponsored circuits during their PE lessons, raising £1,553 and bringing the total for the charity to £2,722.

Headteacher Amanda Turner said: "Everyone at Westbrook Lane is incredibly proud of Paul and his fantastic achievement. He persevered through injury, and went on to complete the Berlin marathon in order to raise money for the NSPCC - enthusing the children along the way.

"We are very proud of the amount raised by the children and families at Westbrook to support this charity. The NSPCC does crucial work supporting children who need help in times of crisis, and protecting them from abuse. It also helps educate children through the workshops the NSPCC staff deliver in schools and the quality resources it produces to enable teachers to support children in an informed and sensitive way."

Mandy Young, NSPCC local schools’ coordinator said: "I would like to congratulate Paul and all the pupils at Westbrook Lane Primary in Horsforth for their efforts in fundraising for the NSPCC. It is so brilliant.

"Thanks to everyone’s generosity, we will be able to reach even more vulnerable children when they need us the most – whether it’s through Childline, our Helpline, in schools or one of our therapeutic service centres across the country."

Visit www.nspcc.org.uk to find out more about raising money for the charity.