A PRIMARY school looking to the sun for its power has raised enough money to get solar panels.

Holy Trinity Primary School, in Beridge Road, Halstead, had hopes to raise more than £10,000 to become a solar school.

It planned to raise the money by the summer, but has already broken the target reaching £10,010.

About 50 schools are already fundraising to become solar schools, and only two are in Essex, both in Southend.

The school can also earn £700 per year for the next 35 years for electricity it produces and is then sold.

Computer teacher Karl Handy, who is leading the project at the school, said:”It’s been overwhelming, an awful lot of people thought it would be a big ask to raise that amount of money in a year.

“The children have been really enthusiastic and excited. It’s been quite moving and it almost stopped being about the money, just the kindness of people.”

Donations include £1,000 from access and cleaning company Shadbolt Rope Access and £250 each from Oswick estate agency and accountants Richard Edwards Group LLP.

A further £1,762 has been raised by pupils, parents and staff with events including a danceathon.

The Tamdown Foundation, part engineering service the Tamdown Group, gave a donation of £3,500 which tipped them over the target.

The school is still fundraising to top up the money, and it holding a few more events.

A quiz night will be held at the school on Saturday, February 27 and a bake off will be held next month.

Details of all the fundraising events can be found on the school’s website at /www.holytrinityhalstead.com