A 40-strong team from Chigwell School completed the Royal Parks Half Marathon to bring their fundraising total to more than £50,000.

Parents, staff and Old Chigwellians completed the challenge as the largest team to enter a run for the Royal Parks Foundation and Cancer Research UK.

The team was organised by Gill Punt, wife of Chigwell School headmaster Michael Punt.

She completed this year’s London Marathon in four hours and 40 minutes as part of her continuing fundraising efforts for the charity, which in the last 12 months have raised £50,000.

The school is supporting Cancer Research UK after a number of staff, former pupils and parents in the Chigwell community have battled the disease.

Gill said: “It was a great day and we did Chigwell School proud. The team have so far raised £25,000 - and the total is still rising!”

"My father died of cancer 15 years ago and so I am only too aware of how much this dreadful disease affects whole families."

The half-marathon started and finished in London’s Hyde Park with the course passing Green Park, St James Park, the Houses of Parliament and Victoria Embankment last weekend.