THE HEADTEACHER of a Chepstow school devastated a blaze last month said a marathon fundraising effort by kind-hearted locals has meant pupils will benefit to the tune of £5,000, with the total still rising.

Linda Davies said she and staff at Thornwell Primary, devastated by fire on June 3, have been touched by the way the community has rallied round to raise the money.

Pupils lost everything in the fire, which gutted the infant building and nursery unit, destroying educational facilities and pupils' work in the early hours.

Ever since the smoke from the cherished building died down, locals sprung into action, organising fundraisers right across the county.

From discos to sponsored sales, the money has been accumulated in just six weeks, buoyed by a campaign by our sister paper the Free Press.

Mrs Davies has a list of all those who have contributed, including £1,000 from construction firm Mabey Bridge and £660 from the Two Brewers pub down the road.

Local schools also helped their fellow pupils, with Chepstow Comprehensive, Wyedean and Offas Mead students collecting £472, £500 and £200 respectively from non-uniform days.

Residents from The Reddings, who live nearby, also plucked some spare change from their pockets to raise £40.

But it was not just locals who were touched by the story - Mrs Davies was sent $100 by a Mr and Mrs Beckerich from America, touched by the children's plight, and money was also sent in from Holland by the grandparents of two pupils.

Mrs Davies said the fundraising has exceeded all expectations, when they would have pleased with just a few hundred pounds.

With the ThornAid event on July 22 at the town's Smirnoff Bar and a rescheduled car wash by firefighters who tackled the blaze still to come, the total will rise even further.

Mrs Davies said: "I am absolutely delighted. It has really been heart-warming and brought the whole community together. They have galvanised our efforts here."

Demolition of the fire damaged buildings begins on Friday.