Two pupils have raised more than £700 with their Christmas raffle towards a charity trip to Uzbekistan.

14-year-old Alec Hunter Academy pupils Chloe Breach, of Beckers Green Road, and Leah Boxshall, of Cressing Road, have raised about £3,000 towards their goal of £4,098 needed for their trip to the country, where they will help to build a school and go camping and trekking.

They raised £763 by organising a Christmas raffle, which was drawn on Christmas Eve in the Boots store in George Yard, Braintree, by Claire Brown, the store manager.

To donate, cheques can be sent to World Challenge, 17-21 Queens Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP13 6AQ.

On the back of the cheque it must state: Chloe Breach, Alec Hunter Academy, HH9328, Uzbekistan.