A KENDAL artist and Old Hutton pupils have been fundraising to buy solar panels for a twin school in Senegal.

Old Hutton Primary School is twinned with Joachim Fode N'Diaye Primary School in Joal.

The South Lakes students have raised more than £1,500 over the past year, which is enough to provide solar panels for the Senegal school to have electricity for lights in every classroom.

Claire Griffel, an artist and teacher, has close connections with Senegal and has co-ordinated the project.

She said that over the course of the year the children have held swimathons, donated birthday money and the PTA has helped by donating money in order to raise the £1,539.

"From these they have got the buzz and they have started to think of ideas for summer," Claire said.

Head teacher, Andrea Walker, said: "Wow! It's so wonderful that we can help to make a real difference to improve education and the lives of other children in another part the world!

"A huge well done and thank you to Claire and everyone who has helped with our fundraising. We now plan to carry on and raise more to fund a generator which can provide enough power for computers!"

The first round of solar panel installations will occur after the rainy season at the end of October.

If you would like to help with the project or talk to Claire about her work, she runs a fundraising stall in Kendal's indoor market on a Wednesday.