Primary school makes a splash for Children in Need

Children in Need Night takes places on Friday 15 November

Primary school children are taking the plunge for a sponsored swimathon in aid of Children in Need.

Maidwell Primary School in Northamptonshire said pupils across all of its age groups were taking part in the challenge over the next two weeks, but said it was not targeting a particular distance.

The school has been using the swimming pool at Maidwell Hall every week for lessons - and will complete the swimathon there.

Headteacher Geoff Woods said: "Children in Need gives the children an opportunity to appreciate that there are people who are less well off or less fortunate than themselves and they can help contribute to families that Children in Need support."

Their endeavours are not the only watery challenge being undertaken for the annual BBC charity event.

Last week, BBC Radio Northampton joined other radio stations across the UK to collectively swim 1,000 miles (1,609km).

'Taking it in turns'

The children at Maidwell Primary have spent weeks planning their challenge, with "the school council doing lots of preparation".

Mr Woods said the school was lucky to have the Maidwell Hall facility, adding: "The children are paired up and are taking it in turns to swim while the other counts for them."

He said the children were inspired by another challenge the school took on a few years ago, to swim the distance to Market Harborough - almost seven miles (11.6km).

"Some of the children remembered it and asked if they could have another go at a swimming challenge this year," he said.

"At the time we didn't know BBC Northampton were also doing a Children in Need swim."