MINI daredevils waded through almost a mile of mud to raise money for their special four-legged friends.

The group of 15 four to seven-year-olds from Avon House Preparatory School in Woodford Green took on the 1.5km mud race last Sunday (May 14) to raise money for Guide Dogs UK.

The 'Woodford Rookies' chose the charity after their classmates’ parents started looking after some of the K9s being trained at the Guide Dogs Association in Manor Road.

After a gruelling half an hour the Nursery, Year 1, and 2 pupils reached the finish line, smashing their £150 fundraising target by collecting over £600.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Six-year-old Anika Khare, whose mother Ranjeet is partially sighted, was particularly excited to take part after getting to know her classmate Callum’s dog from the Woodford Green training centre.

She said: “I wanted to do the race for the dogs because they are so clever and help blind people see through the dogs eyes.”

Mrs Khare added: “Anika is always asking me about the guide dogs I work with and she loves playing with the ones that come into school.

“They’re such an active bunch so it was so great to see them using that energy to make a difference at such a young age.”