When head teacher Jane Bingham had to go into hospital for surgery for breast cancer, her hospital bed was surrounded by get well cards from youngsters at her school.

While she underwent a gruelling operation, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, children at Killinghall Primary joined the Tickled Pink campaign to raise cash for research into breast cancer.

Their efforts made £750 - and this year they are hoping to top that with another day-long fundraising extravaganza for the charity Breast Cancer Care.

This time, Mrs Bingham, whose hair has grown back and who has regained her fitness, is able to take part too.

Still recuperating, she is working three days a week at the school and doing two days work from her home in Queensbury.

"There is never anything wrong with me, so when I became ill the children were as shocked as I was," said Mrs Bingham, who has been at the school for 17 years.

"They were all really supportive and I decided to be really up front with them."

Instead of hiding her illness from the children, Mrs Bingham was open about it - and used it to educate both the youngsters and raise awareness in the school's wider community.

This week, Bradford City Primary Care Trust was invited in by the school to give a breast cancer awareness session to local mums.

"It's a subject that needs to be brought out more within the Asian community," Mrs Bingham said.

As part of their Tickled Pink campaign, children in all age groups were involved in the fundraising.

They took part in a non-uniform day that involved wearing pink clothing; baked, sold and munched pink cakes (Sara Abid is pictured with one); and arranged a pink balloon race.

School leaders think they will smash last year's fundraising total, and are on line to make £1,000 for the cancer research charity.

Imogen Swales, the school's fundraising co-ordinator as well as reception class teacher, said: "When Jane was diagnosed last year, this was our way of showing our support for her when she was in hospital undergoing treatment.

Everybody enjoyed it so much we decided to do it again. It's nice that Jane is involved with it this time."