Children from Monmouth Schools Pre-Prep and Nursery donned face paint and hedgehog masks to raise money for a voluntary organisation near Newport.

The reception class looked a picture as they marched along the banks of the River Wye in aid of Hedgehog Helpline, which rescues and rehabilitates injured hedgehogs in South Wales.

The enthusiastic boys and girls, who coloured their own masks, have been learning about hedgehogs in class.

Reception class teacher, Mrs Lisa Shepherd, said: “It is lovely to see the children involved in the community and supporting local charities.

“The children want to learn all they can about hedgehogs and we felt it was important they looked like hedgehogs for their sponsored walk.

“They had their faces painted and coloured their masks which they decorated with sticks from the Forest School to represent the spines of hedgehogs.”

Mrs Shepherd added: “It is an exciting time because we are planning to build hedgehog houses inside the school grounds so the children can put what they have learned into action.”