SCHOOLCHILDREN have planted a number of purple crocus bulbs to help raise awareness of a worldwide campaign to eradicate a highly contagious disease.

Year One pupils at Dane Ghyll School in Barrow planted the bulbs in their vegetable garden as part of an initiative known as Purple4Polio.

The global scheme, which was set up by the Rotary Foundation, aims to get rid of the disease by 2019 by raising £3bn.

Two weeks ago, the pupils planted purple bulbs in How Tun Woods with the help of Frank Randall from Furness Rotary Club.

Last week, Mr Randall returned to Dane Ghyll with fellow Rotarians Fred Winkfield and Colin Scraggs to assist the school's gardener, Louise Postlethwaite, in planting more bulbs.

Miss Postlethwaite said: "After the successful afternoon planting bulbs in How Tun woods with the junior children it was lovely to get the infants involved with the bulb planting in the school grounds."

As a way of saying thanks for helping to combat polio, the children received a certificate from Mr Randall commending their gardening skills.

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