A NEWPORT high school has got into the festive spirit last week to raise money to build a Welsh war memorial.

Staff at Duffryn High School turned up to school on December 6 wearing Christmas jumpers, while pupils took part in a non uniform day in an effort to raise around £2,000 to go towards The Welsh Memorial in Flanders Campaign.

Staff took part in a competition for the best jumper in an effort to erect a memorial in the Flanders region of Belgium to all the Welsh soldiers who fought during World War One.

The campaign aims to build a cromlech, or flagstone monument by August next year, in time to mark the centenary of the war's outbreak in 2014.

Local people have already donated land for the memorial to be built on and Duffryn High School decided to get involved to help make the monument happen.

Duffryn High School head teacher Jon Wilson said: “We held a non- uniform day for the students with the staff coming in their Christmas jumpers to be judged.

“The aim was to help raised fund for the The Welsh Memorial in Flanders Campaign to build a memorial in Flanders.

“Wales is the only country that does not have a memorial there even though thousands of Welsh soldiers died there.

“We are trying to raise over £1,000 for the cause as they are desperate for donations to make this happen by August next year.

“We are really hoping to raise £2,000 ideally to give support to the campaign.”