FISH fingers and custard may not sound the most appetising of meals, but the dish was served up to pupils from the Joy's Green Referral Unit as part of a fund-raising drive which eventually netted £46.

The money will be going to the Children's Opportunity Centre in Coleford.

As part of the Sport Relief campaign, the children from the Referral Unit also ran races around their playground, as well as bravely tucking into the bowls of fishy custard – an unusual meal made famous by Dr Who, as played by Matt Smith.

Speaking at the presentation of the cheque to the Children's Opportunity Centre, Referral Unit teacher Lisa Deeth said: "It was a really fun event, and it was the children's own decision to award the money that they raised to the Opportunity Centre.

"They also ran ten laps of the playground, which was sponsored as part of Sport Relief, and the money will go to providing sports equipment for the Opportunity Centre."

The Referral Unit, part of a county-wide service housed in the old Joy's Green Primary School, helps children who have been excluded from other schools.

Kelly Bishop of the Opportunity Centre said: "This is such a lovely donation to us – made even better by the fact that the children have brought this to us on their own initative. These are difficult times for any organisation to raise funds, and this is very welcome indeed."

The Children's Opportunity Centre is presently also gearing up for its 30th birthday celebrations, which will feature a special event at Forest Hills Golf Club, Coleford, on Saturday May 26, starting at 3pm.