A mother has raised almost £2,000 for a charity for vulnerable children after her son was severely bullied at school.

Gina Morris, 45, of Swanshope in Loughton, raised the money after hosting a fitness marathon which consisted of four hours of Zumba, Insanity, Armageddon and Killer Pilates, at Alderton Primary School in Alderton Hall Lane, Loughton, at the weekend.

The mother-of-four set herself the challenge of raising money for Kidscape and Red Balloon of the Air, after her son Oliver was severely bullied at his former school.

Mrs Morris said: “it was a fantastic day and we are just £80 short of raising £2,000 for the anti bullying charities Kidscape & Red Balloon of the Air that helped save my son Oliver.

"I don't want any child to suffer in silence so I am going to try to raise as much money as I can to stamp out bullying and make everyone aware that it goes on but there is help."