AN EX-PUPIL of Halton Lodge Primary in Runcorn has rallied the support of his business colleagues to get scores of restless youngsters back into class.
Kevin Hammond, who works at Budget Insurance on Albert Road, Widnes, was determined to pitch in after his former school was gutted by fire last month.
His management team has pledged £200 to the school and hopes to raise even more by holding a raffle in the months to come.
The sales adviser has an interest in bringing Halton Lodge back from the ashes. Both his stepchildren - six-year-old Kieron and two-year-old Courtney Barnes - are pupils at the school.
His mum, Joan Hammond, is a classroom assistant and is out of a job until restoration work begins.
Headteacher Gaynor Dickson will accept the cash at St Andrew&apos;s church in Runcorn tomorrow.
Mr Hammond, of Lilac Crescent in Runcorn, said: &apos;It&apos;s affected everybody, this fire.
&apos;My wife, Selena, is pregnant and I think she&apos;s finding it very difficult now the children are always at home.
Mr Hammond, who lives minutes away from the school on Grangeway, stood among crowds outside the front gates with his children, who echoed the fears of other youngsters that their teachers and friends were trapped.