The sleepover was the finale to a year's fundraising for The Pepper Foundation by pupils and parents of Haresfoot School in Berkhamsted.

The school raised a total of £5,387 during the year in a bingo night, Christmas Fair and Chinese-themed ball for the charity, which cares for seriously ill children in the community.

An auction and raffle at the school's ball raised £4,173 of this sum.
Several of the prizes have been redeemed in June, including the sleepover and a day as headmaster, won by Jacob Salo, a Year 5 pupil at Haresfoot.

Jacob said: "Being a Headteacher is really good fun but very, very tiring and I would love to do it again."

An evening's babysitting by Year 4 teacher Mrs Savage had to be auctioned twice as it was so popular.

"The parents, teachers and local businesses have been so generous in their offers of prizes, thank you every one," said headteacher Samantha Jaspal. "The Pepper Foundation is such a worthy local cause and we've all had lots of fun at these events too."

Dennis Fairey, a patron of the Pepper Foundation, said: "This is absolutely fantastic news, thank you, the parents and the children very much indeed for such an amazing effort."

Year 4, 5 and 6 children at the school bedded down in the school hall alongside their classmates and teachers. The event was such a success that it may now become an annual event, although next year Mrs Jaspal plans to bring an airbed that does not deflate during the night.