PUPILS from River Mead Primary School in Melksham played their part in a special charity day last Friday (5 October) in support of the armed forces and their families.

They dressed up in Union Jack colours for this year’s Red, White & Blue Day, a national fundraising campaign for schools.

Liz Feierabend, the school’s PSHE leader, said: “It is important for children to learn about the history of our country and we encourage our children to learn about what it means to fundraise and support different charities.

“We choose different charities to fundraise for each year and are pleased to be supporting the armed forces this year.”

Red, White & Blue Day was founded in 2011 by the three national Service charities: ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

The campaign aims to commemorate the end of the First World War by asking schools to throw their own street party and encouraging children to come to school dressed in red, white and blue.

Children were asked to donate £1 in support of Service families and River Mead raised £250.

They learned how to make traditional World War 1 recipes, sang wartime songs and created artwork as part of their efforts.

Teachers were also equipped with specially-created lesson plans and activities to help the pupils soak up the history of the First World War.