Silverstone UTC students take on charity challenge for Children In Need

Students from Silverstone UTC in their fancy dress

The event, which is organised by the Year 13 Business and Events students as part of their course requirements, raised more than £1,000 with donations coming from students, teachers, parents and local businesses. The final tally is expected to exceed that raised last year.

"We are lucky to have the track on our doorstep and be able to use it for such a worthy cause," said Kennedy Okeke, one of the organising students.

All students and staff were encouraged to dress up in fancy dress costumes and make a small donation to take part in the fun run. Silverstone donated an hour of time on the iconic track and participants could cover the1.62-milee route on foot, scooter, unicycles or skateboards.

Students from Silverstone UTC make their way around the world famous circuit

"Our students think of very inventive ways of getting around the track, and this year we saw Swegway hoverboards and unicycles," said Kennedy.

Prizes are given out to students for their outfits and simply for participating and this year they were donated by McDonald's in Towcester, Wagamamas in Milton Keynes, Red Bull Racing, Bounce in Milton Keynes, Whittlebury Hotel and Spa, Towcester Racecourse, Poynters bus company and Taylor Made Beauty Salon in Buckingham.

Neil Patterson, principle of the UTC, said the annual event served as a real team building exercise for the students and that they looked forward to it for months in advance.

"Each year this event gets larger and larger with students going to more trouble to be creative and humorous," he added.