Students battled it out to get their hands on thousands of pound to give to a charity of their choice.

The Year 9 students at Valentines High School, Cranbrook Road, Gants Hill chose a charity and gave presentations why their charity should be given the money.

The winning team of ladies lobbied for Woodford Green charity Elhap which has a playground for disabled children in Roding Lane North.

Elgan Prosser, head of Year 9, said: “Working with local charities has given the students of Valentines the opportunity to involve themselves in the local community. They have seen another side of Ilford; a side that is less fortunate than themselves”.

The eventual victors were 14 year olds Yasmin Goolay, Shola Songara, Reesa Pillai and Amira Issa who will give £3,000 funded by the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative.