A school held an auction to raise cash for its campaign to build a classroom for children in South Sudan.

St Mary’s CE Primary School in Dollis Park, Finchley, welcomed more than 150 people to the event on Friday, November 9 at St Mary’s Church hall in Hendon Lane, Finchley.

Spurred on by former EastEnders actor Tom Watt, guests bid for a variety of auction items including Premiership football tickets, jewellery, a signed Arsenal football shirt and a tour around the Houses of Parliament.

The highest bid of the evening was £1,250 for a painting of Coniston Water by artist Rory Browne.

In total the auction evening raised a staggering £10,000, including an anonymous donation of £800.

Niki Bettis, parent governor at the school said: “It’s overwhelming how much money we raised – everyone had a thoroughly fantastic evening.

“We set up this campaign as part of our centenary celebrations. Our children are so fortunate, we wanted to involve them in creating similar opportunities for children in a developing country.”

As well as the sale, swing singer Jamie McReedy performed under a glitter ball and nine-year-old pupils Madeleine Fox and Sophie Leadford shone guest’s shoes for donations.

The pair set up their Happy Shoe Shine company to help raise extra cash for their school’s campaign which aims to raise £15,000 to build a classroom in Bilali, South Sudan, where the pupils currently have their lessons under a tree.