STUDENTS at John Hampden Grammar School pushed their headmaster around the course of the Wycombe Half Marathon in a wheelchair.

Headmaster Stephen Nokes, dressed as John Hampden, took to a wheelchair to raise money for the school with 40 per cent of the total going to the school's chosen charity Wycombe Youth Action.

A team of between 15 and 20 sixth formers pushed the head round the 13-mile course in a wheelchair decorated to be his "seat of learning".

Allyson Poore, a parent who completed the course with them, said: "It was great fun but I think the boys found it quite hard.

"The wheelchair was like the proverbial shopping trolley with a mind of its own."

More than £3,800 was raised in sponsorship and the school will put their half of the money towards refurbishing one of the school's science labs.

Diana Anderson, one of the governors who ran around the course with Mr Nokes, said: "It was great fun and the head looked really fantastic dressed up as John Hampden."

The team was made up of 20 sixth formers pushing the head, while parents and two governors ran alongside to offer support, together with three members of staff.

One of the parents, Tony Barrows, ran the course with the team, and came in 59th out of 1,113 at one hour, 28 minutes, six seconds.

The team managed to complete the course in one hour, 54 minutes and 28 seconds which placed them second in school entrants.

The parents at the school also raised money by holding a competition with a star prize of a holiday.

John Hampden Grammar School is hunting for the winner of the competition.

The winner, Mrs Allner of Amersham, correctly guessed the time it took the school team to push the head round the Wycombe Half Marathon Course. She has won the prize of a five-star holiday for two in Portugal for a week.

She is asked to contact the school on 01494 529589.