A primary school has a new swimming pool in its sights after a balloon race raised nearly £1,200.

Pupils at Lambourne Primary School in Abridge released 600 balloons with identity tags attached from their playground in Hoe Lane on Friday, with donations matched by Barclays bank.

Angela Peters, of the school’s PTA, said: “The whole school came out into the playground and Year 6 told the other pupils when to release the balloons.

“They all loved it and they’ve never had a balloon race at school before.”

The school hopes to raise the remaining £15,000 it needs for a new pool within its grounds by the end of the year.

A fete will be held in its playgroud after school hours on July 12.