PUPILS at a school in Woodbridge have been inspired by guide dog puppy Star to try to raise �5,000 to name a guide dog of their own.

PUPILS at a school in Woodbridge have been inspired by guide dog puppy Star to try to raise �5,000 to name a guide dog of their own.

The children at Kyson primary are helping to organise a series of events and are determined to raise as much money as they can.

Their first event will be a Shush and Shades Day on April 2 when they will take part in a variety of activities.

Puppy walker Penny Parker took Star - focus of the Evening Star's appeal to pay for her breeding and training - into the school to meet pupils and talk about the charity and its work.

Libby Brown, headteacher at the school in Peterhouse Crescent said: “The children choose a charity or good cause they want to support each year and then through the school council they come up with ideas to raise money and help put those into action.

“They have really big hearts for other people and are constantly thinking of others.

“They put forward the guide dogs charity and as well as helping financially it will be a chance for them to learn about what it is like for people who are blind and visually-impaired.”

The children will be linking some of their activities to the 200th anniversary this year of the birth of Louis Braille, who developed the system for blind people to read using raised combinations of dots.

“It would be lovely to be able to raise �5,000 as that would allow us to name a new guide dog puppy - it has been suggested we could call it Kyson, but I am sure the children would have some imaginative ideas, too!” said Miss Brown.

Mrs Parker said: “The children were so enthusiastic and we had a wonderful morning and have said we will help in any way we can.”