PUPILS from a Bradford secondary school are hoping to retain their title as the country's top entrepreneurs after raising more than £5,000 from just an initial £1 investment.

Sixth-form students from Tong High School won the national schools' category of the Micro-Tyco Enterprise Challenge last year, also finishing third in the overall global competition.

They raised more than £3,600 from £1 given by the Wildhearts Foundation in February 2014, but have surpassed that figure this year by breaking the £5,000 barrier.

Like the money generated last year, the funds will go towards investing in micro-entrepreneurs to start their own businesses in developing countries across the world.

Throughout last month, the school took part in the Micro-Tyco project, where teams are given a ‘seed capital’ of £1 and challenged to it into as much money as possible.

As part of this year's grand finale, the school hosted a large charity auction dinner in associate with Deloitte Leeds, The Bradford Hotel, and WildHearts, also featuring a speech from Commonwealth Games silver-medal winning boxer, Qais Ashfaqs.

The team managed to raise more than £3,000 via ticket sales and a very special auction featuring prizes such as a One Direction signed jumper from Tong alumni Zayn Malik, signed Amir Khan boxing gloves, and a signed Rugby World Cup ball.

The team has also held various events at the school, including tombolas, selling samosas, running football tournaments, hosting a non-uniform day, and organising a Valentines Fair.

The final total has now been submitted, and is currently being compared with other teams from across the world who have also taken part in the February 2015 MicroTyco challenge.

The school is now waiting to find out whether it has done enough to keep the national title it claimed last year.

Headteacher Stephen Curran said: "I would like to thank the students, staff, Deloitte mentors, and partner organisations who together have worked tirelessly in a bid to defend our title.

"This entrepreneurial challenge has once again been a huge success, and we are delighted with the results.

"The students worked extremely hard on the project, which has enabled them to learn fundamental business concepts.

"Throughout the process, they have been inspired and have used their entrepreneurial thinking for a greater cause.

"We are looking forward to hearing about our final position this year, and can't wait to find out if we have won once again."

The money raised in the challenge helps to fund 73 micro-businesses in the developing world every year.