Pub-goers and passers-by donated almost £800 to fancy dress walkers as they trekked up the Aire valley on Saturday.

The bucket collection will boost money raised through sponsorship by parents and staff from a Skipton school.

A total of 28 people – mostly women – walked from Keighley to Skipton in aid of Brooklands Community Special School.

The 12-mile route took in villages including Sutton, Cross Hills and Kildwick so they could call at pubs to pass round their buckets.

The walk was the first of several planned events aimed at raising £20,000 for a sensory room for disabled pupils. It was organised by Samantha Turner, whose daughter Jorden-Louise attends Brooklands, and staff member Paula Mason, both of Cross Hills.

Samantha wanted to give some-thing back to Brooklands for the help it has given her daughter during the past seven years.

Paula estimated that each of the walkers would raise between £60 and £100 in sponsorship. The bucket collection raised £773. The group also included four children, who walked as far as Cross Hills.

Paula said: “We had a great time. The weather was all right until we got to the ‘Welcome to the Yorkshire Dales’ sign in Skipton when it rained!”

The Royal Shepherd pub in Skipton treated the walkers to a meal after they finished.

Anyone who wishes to contribute to the fundraising target should contact Paula on 07840 493536.