A GROUP of parents are calling for the help of the rest of Ilkley's community to raise thousands of pounds before the end of the year.

Ben Rhydding Primary School, on Bolling Road, wants to refurbish its playground and provide improved outdoor play facilities for the children.

The school's Parent Teachers' Association has launched a drive to raise more than £7,000, and is offering the chance to place a bid in a charity auction of promises with the 'lots' including a seaside holiday flat, an evening in a casino with a professional blackjack player, and a day at Lords Cricket Ground to watch a test match.

The fundraising campaign was inspired by the Government's Department for Education and Skills (DfES) guidelines on providing play facilities in schools. The PTA has set out to see all the money raised by the end of the year.

To provide all the improvements planned, the school needs £30,000.

But the fundraising campaign has been able to secure match-funding grants - so all money raised at the school will be matched pound-for-pound by outside funding, and the school now needs to hit a target total of just £15,000.

The school PTA has taken an active role in seeking out the money, and the amount raised so far currently stands at around £7,500, with another £7,500 still to go.

Members of the PTA have visited a number of Ilkley businesses asking if they can contribute money to the appeal, and this week launched their Playground Development Fund appeal with a sponsored balloon race.

The owner of the balloon recovered after flying furthest from the school will win a prize of an photograph portrait session. The person who posts back the balloon will also win a prize.

PTA chairman and school parent governor, Heather Munro, said: "We also want to raise the profile of our challenge and involve the children from the beginning so that they share in our sense of achievement as the playground develops."

"Our current project will cost us around £30,000 and we have already managed to raise half this amount. We accept we have undertaken on an ambitious project but are very motivated and have arranged various events to help us achieve our aim."

The next major fundraising event will be the auction of promises on Friday, November 14. The auction, which is open to anyone, will take place at Ben Rhydding Sports Club.

Entertainment will be provided at intervals by the champion of champions from ITV's Stars in Their Eyes music sound-alike talent contest, Ian Moor, impersonates singer Chris de Burgh.

Entry to the auction is by catalogue, which costs £5 on the door, and grants admission to two people, plus a reception drink.

For more details about the event, to contribute to the fundraising appeal, or to donate a 'promise' to the auction, contact Heather Munro via the school office, on (01943) 431133