MORE than 700 soft toys collected by children at Rodborough Primary School are being sent to an orphanage in India thanks to the help of the Gloucestershire Freemasons.

Pupils of all year groups generously donated the cuddly creatures from their own toy boxes after the idea was suggested by voluntary teacher John Kimpton, whose brother James has been working with disadvantaged youths in India since 1953.

However, the cost of shipping the toys abroad proved too much for the school, so John contacted the Freemasonry through The Rev Peggy Ludlow at St Mary Magdalene Church in Rodborough, who were happy to pay the bill.

Today, Thursday, April 23, Freemason Mark Smith and Adrian Davies J.P., Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Gloucestershire, visited the school to take stock of the toys before they are shipped out next month.

Mr Kimpton, a former Marling teacher who has been volunteering his help once a week at the school for the past year, said: "I think it is fantastically kind of the freemasons to help us, I must say an enormous thank you for their generosity.

"Soft toys are just about the best gift you can send because they are easy to pack and you can squash a lot of them into a confined space.

"James also thinks it is marvelous."

His gratitude was echoed by head teacher Maggie Halsey, who added: "I think it is excellent they are supporting a project which is so close to the children’s hearts."

Mr Davies said the Freemasons’ society was able to cover the shipping costs thanks to a charitable fund he is creating to benefit the people of Gloucestershire.

"I think it is absolutely brilliant what the pupils have done," he said.

"When the children have given away the things that are most precious to them, we as Freemasons would like to be associated with it and help them send the toys to those who are less fortunate in India."