Generous businesses and individuals who pledged cash to a Bingley school's specialist status bid have been praised after the target was reached with just days to spare.

Bingley Grammar School has applied to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) to specialise in science and business and enterprise.

If successful the school will receive hundreds of thousands of pounds of funding over the next four years to develop the subjects.

But the bid was dependant on £50,000 being raised to pay for the application before its deadline to the DfES today.

Peter Thompson, Bingley Grammar School's bursar, said the target had been reached thanks to the generosity of the public.

"We are all absolutely delighted to have achieved the target which means the bid can go forward as planned," he said.

"The level of support from staff, students and the various associations has been quite overwhelming and we're amazingly grateful. The level of support from businesses has also been fantastic.

"Only two weeks ago we faced a shortfall of £4,500 and an appeal for help generated the cash we needed."

Mr Thompson said he was especially grateful to businesses across the district who had pledged cash towards the effort.

Bradford & Bingley donated £5,000 to the total.

Up to £35,000 of the application was raised by the school's Foundation Governors, Parent Teachers Association and Friends of Bingley Grammar School group.

Staff and pupils also took part in fundraising efforts which included a sponsored abseil and two Valentine's Day balls.

If successful, the cash would pay for additional staff and help forge links between the school and primary schools and businesses in the area to aid pupils' learning and skills.

It could also be used to develop extra-curricular courses at the school which the public could take part in.

Mr Thompson said the bid document had been checked by a consultant who had suggested some minor changes.

He added the finalised document would be sent to the DfES before the March 4 deadline.