PUBLIC services students from Priestley College teamed up with the RAF – and Father Christmas – to put smiles on the faces of poorly children at two hospitals.

Priestley’s students raised more than £2,300, which was combined with money collected by Cheadle College to buy presents for little ones at Alder Hey and The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Father Christmas and his elves from the Royal Air Force Careers Offices in Liverpool and Manchester delivered the presents last Tuesday and also visited Priestley College to say thank you.

“We aim to raise morale amongst the children in hospitals over Christmas and it is great to work with the students to achieve this,” said flight lieutenant Rach Collier.

Priestley’s students took part in a 24-hour football-a-thon as well as a sponsored walk from the college in Loushers Lane to Lymm where they were given a tour of the Fire and Rescue base.

Their final contribution to the appeal was £2,351.65 – the most raised in the seven years Priestley has been supporting the RAF.

Former Beamont Collegiate Academy pupil Callum Holt raised £130 thanks to sponsorship from colleagues at Thomas Plant Hire and DW Sports.

“People seemed happy to support me because they knew it was for such a good cause,” he said.

Jordan Turner, who previously studied at Hope Academy, and Jenny Henley, a former pupil at The Heath, said they enjoyed seeing the pictures of the children receiving their gifts.

“It’s nice to see where the presents have gone and the difference it makes.”