LOOE Community School's quest for 'Arts Status' has received a huge boost thanks to the generosity of West Looe Town Trust.

The Trust has voted to pledge £25,000, which is half of the total £50,00 required to lodge the bid in October. This brings the total raised so far to £30,000, of which £2,500 has also been pledged by Caradon District Council.

A further £500 has been received from the Millpool Centre Project which wound up its affairs at a special meeting in February, the hardworking committee voting to put all their efforts behind the school's bid instead.

Project

If the bid is successful the Government's Department of Education will put a further £100,000 into the capital project - estimated at more than £1million - and will also provide an extra £70,000 funding per annum towards the running costs. The building capital will be raised through various partnership schemes.

Head teacher Helga Turner said her response to the news of the Trust's pledge had been an emotional one. 'There were tears in my eyes' she said. 'This has given us a wonderful kick start and the impetus to raise the remaining total of £20,000'. Mrs Turner says she will be pleased to hear from anyone who can come up with fundraising suggestions or is willing to make a contribution, no matter how small.

Trustee Sid Gardner said West Looe Town Trust had always been supportive of educational matters and was fully behind the school's bid which would be an asset for the entire community. In the past the Trust had donated £40,000 towards the building of the sports hall at the Community School and had paid the £50,000 cost of a new classroom at the Primary School.