PUPILS and staff at James McFarlane School in Ardrossan raised an impressive £800 with a coffee morning in memory of a friend and former colleague.

The fundraiser for Ayrshire Hospice was in honour of Linda Mathieson, who worked at the school for over three decades and sadly passed away in February.

Lindsay Brown, one of the coordinators, said: “We raised £800 which is absolutely brilliant for a two-hour coffee morning. 

“Linda was our friend and colleague. She worked at the school for over 30 years. Her birthday was in February and when we went to see her at the hospice, they made us so welcome. 

“They looked after her so well so the coffee morning was our way of saying thanks. It’s in memory of Linda as that’s something she would have done. 

“It’s at times like these you see how everyone can pull together – all the kids and the staff worked really hard.”