Staff at Helena Romanes School have thanked a Great Dunmow business after it helped them secure funds for its next sports tour.

The school, in Parsonage Downs, is planning to take its Year 10 and Year 11 pupils on a trip to South Africa this summer with the school’s football and hockey teams.

There, students will get the chance to play in a variety of fixtures and train at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria, as well as experience the country’s culture with sight-seeing outings to the likes of Table Mountain and Pilanesberg National Park.

A spokesman for the school said: “These experiences have not all been possible without the hard work and dedication of many individuals and companies helping with different fundraising opportunities.”

Particular praise was given to Alloy Fabweld Ltd, at the Chelmsford Road Industrial Estate, which donated equipment and T-shirts for a school litter-picking challenge, pledging funding for each bag collected.

The spokesman added: “A massive thank you goes to them for supporting the cause.”