AWIDNES primary school which raised funds to promote landmine awareness has been given a distinguished endorsement by Adopt-A-Minefield patrons Paul and Heather Mc-Cartney.

St Bede's Catholic Junior School took part in No More Landmines Day in a bid to demonstrate to the people of Halton that more can be done to save the lives of 10,000 civilians who are maimed or killed each year.

Kind-hearted pupils and teachers at the Leigh Avenue school managed to raise more than £250.

Adopt-A-Minefield raises awareness about the global landmine problem and raises funds to clear landmines and help survivors of landmine explosions.

Since 1999, when the charity was founded, it has generated more than £6m.

It costs about £1 to clear a square metre of minefield; about £50 to help a child walk again.

Every penny of all donations to Adopt-A-Minefield goes directly to mine action and St Bede's will receive feedback as to exactly where the money will be used.

When the funds have been used the school will receive further information about what was found on the site and who benefited from the clearance - or if the money is used to help landmine survivors information will be given as to exactly what was achieved.

The charity was brought to Britain in 2001 by Heather and Sir Paul McCartney.

The pair joined the charity in September 2000 as the campaign's international patrons and goodwill ambassadors.

They have been actively involved in promoting Adopt-AMinefield's mission to raise awareness of the global land-mine crisis and raise funds for mine clearance and survivor assistance.

Heather became involved in the landmine issue more than 10 years ago, having lived in and experienced the war in the former Yugoslavia.

On a visit to the UK in 1993, Heather was involved in an accident that caused her to lose her left leg below the knee. As a result, she became an even stronger advocate for the disabled.

Since the two stars joined the campaign Adopt-A-Minefield has raised nearly $8.5m for mine clearance and survivor assistance.

Adopt-A-Minefield has become a funding umbrella for much. mine action, channelling donations to other organisations that get landmines out of the ground, fit explosion survivors with prosthetic limbs and en-sure the after care survivors need.

The global campaign is now the largest non-governmental funder of mine action in the world.

Heather Mills McCartney said: 'All war is terrible, but what is particularly sad is that many of these mines are made to look like little toys to make them attractive to children.

'They have not only raised money but also raised aware-ness about the impact these cowardly weapons have years after wars are over.'

Heather's husband Paul Mc-Cartney added: 'If the money comes flooding in maybe we could rid the world of land mines in 20 years - if the money

'If a child is maimed then it places a burden on the health services and helps to weaken the country an army is fighting against.

'It is fantastic that St Bede's school achieved so comes in more slowly it could take much longer.'

There are 45 to 50 million landmines in the ground in at least 70 countries.

Those living in mine-affected communities often do not know where landmines are located, or are unaware of the dangers they pose.

Economic necessities, such as cultivating land, often force them to take risks.

The number of land mine deaths and injuries in mine-affected countries can be significantly reduced by introducing mine awareness and education programs and St Bede's School is hoping that their effort can provide a better life for some of the victims.

Mike Eyers, a teacher at St Bede's who has helped launched the project at the school, said: 'All the children have been working really hard to do their bit for the cause. We think it is a great charity to support.

'Landmines claim a victim every 27 minutes. St Bede's school's fundraising efforts towards mine action will make a very valuable contribution to saving lives in countries around the world.'