PRIMARY school pupils finished the year by walking home barefoot in a bid to make a difference to children less fortunate than themselves.

Colne Engaine Primary School organised for pupils to mark the end of the year by donating their school shoes to growing charity Sal’s Shoes.

And for a very short time the pupils knew the challenge faced by the 300 million children across the world who cannot afford to wear shoes, leaving them susceptible to foot injuries which are often left untreated.

Head teacher, Julie Sarti, said: “We finished for the holidays yesterday and wanted to complete a successful year at Colne Engaine by doing something a bit special.

“We have a commitment at Colne Engaine school to helping our children to recognise that we can all make a difference in the world- and supporting the charity ‘Sal’s shoes’ seemed to fit that brief perfectly at the end of the school year.

“We know that the mums and dads of Colne Engaine will be looking doubtfully at the schools shoes their children wear home on the last day of term, knowing that they are going to be too small in September- or are perhaps a little scuffed and have seen better days. Well we have great plans for those shoes, to give them a useful second life.”

The little-known charity Sal’s Shoes has now donated more than 100,000 pairs of shoes in less than three years.

CJ Bowry launched Sal’s Shoes in 2014 after struggling to find a charity which would accept her son’s, Sal, shoes.

Since then the charity has grown at a rapid pace, earning a number of high-profile accolades along the way.

After the successful launch of toeto-toe last year, schools across the country donating shoes on their last day.

Visit salsshoes.com/toe- to-toe.