A Saltcoats swimming school has raised an “amazing” £210 for North Ayrshire Foodbank this Christmas.

AquaSharks Swim School held an online raffle for eight weeks of free swimming lessons with tickets costing £3 and over 70 participants buying tickets.

AquaSharks founder Susan Pollock said: “We are a new, local business, residing and working in North Ayrshire. I wanted myself and my team members to do what we can to help in this current climate.

“We have a passion for teaching kids and adults to swim and know not everyone can afford this luxury. We thought by offering a term for £3 this might make it more accessible, and all for a good cause.”

The swim school has also set up a temporary food donation point for the next two weeks where swimmers can donate food items to the foodbank in the lead up to Christmas.

North Ayrshire Foodbank welcomed the donation and thanked the school for their generosity despite what is currently a difficult financial time for many.

The foodbank’s development manager Craig Crosswaite said: “For those who are maybe being impacted by financial difficulties for the first time still to be able to give something to help others is just truly amazing.

“Given the pressure that we’re under to get as much food out to people over the festive period as possible, this is going to help contribute to that success.

“We’re grateful to the children for thinking of us and the people that we serve at this time of year.”

AquaSharks was founded earlier this year and holds its classes in Sandylands Holiday Park.

More information on AquaSharks can be found on their website: www.aquasharks.co.uk