THE burly under-14s rugby team at Wellington School got in the pink to raise almost £600 for charity.

Players wore fluorescent pink socks for the last game of the rugby season, raising cash for Cancer Research UK in the process.

Dawn Harrison, the charity’s fund-raising manager for Somerset, popped along to the school to receive a cheque from Year 9 student Joel Gibson, who thought up the idea.

Dawn said: “We are delighted that these boys have recognised the need and acted positively to make a difference.

“I understand that many of the squad have been touched by cancer this year, with grandparents and some parents facing the disease. The charity is making huge strides in research and every penny raised brings us closer to finding a cure.”

The boys were sponsored to wear the socks and also received a commemorative photograph and programme.

Joel said: “Cancer destroys lives, rugby brighten lives. We want to use one against the other.”