PUPILS have dedicated two weeks of their leisure time to sell ice lollies and help raise more than £1,000 for the victims of a devastating storm in southern Africa.

About three million people in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe have been affected by Cyclone Idai, which struck on March 4 causing strong winds and widespread flooding, destroying roads, houses, schools and farmland.

However in the hope of helping the international aid effort, a team of year 10 pupils from St Brigid’s School, in Denbigh, decided to sell ice lollies to their peers during lunchtime over a two week period.

They raised more than £200, which the Catholic school will donate to the humanitarian appeals by the British Red Cross and Cafod, the Catholic international development charity.

A St Brigid’s School spokesperson said: “The school congratulates all the pupils involved for their hard work in raising money for such a worthwhile cause.

“As a Christian community, helping others is part of our ethos and we are always looking for ways to support people in need both abroad and at home"

But the school’s fundraising effort was helped further by enterprising year eight pupils who were studying for their key skills marketing project.

They were assigned the task of designing, advertising and selling their own take on the much-loved digestive biscuit, which they sold in two days at school raising about £185.

The spokesperson added: “The pupils have been exceptionally enthusiastic with this challenge.

“A massive well done to them for their brilliant entrepreneurial skills.

“We also held a Fairtrade raffle and a home clothes day and altogether this means that as a school we have raised over £1,000, which will be forwarded to the charities.”