GOLFERS helped raise thousands of pounds for a school extension by doing what they like best - playing golf.

The charity golf day at Came Down Golf Club has given a boost to the project at St Mary's Catholic First School in Dorchester, which is busy building a major extension.

The work will cost £600,000 and the school itself must find one-tenth - £60,000 - before the end of the school year.

Everyone - governors, staff, friends, parents, the Holy Trinity parish, children and now golfers - are doing their bit to raise the cash.

The golf day raised more than £3,000 helped by pledges and sponsorship from local businesses.

Event organisers Tony Armstrong and Mark Osborne, who both have children at the school, are especially grateful to Paul and Charlotte Chaffey of West Coast Glazing, who generously pledged £500 to be the title sponsors.

In addition, they raised £100 from their tee sponsors - MJ Foice Building Services, the Dorset Wine Company, Fielding and Cumber Vets, Dorchester Round Table, Telstar, the Rajpoot, Surestaff Ltd, Eversden Construction, GRS Architects, Sportsgear, Stag Fencing and Sheds, Ken Davies, Great Western Electrical, Edmundson Electrical Ltd, Pugsley Revill, Bride Valley Motors and the Builder Center.

More money came in from a bumper raffle - so more thanks must go to the many people who gave prizes.

The golf day was the biggest fundraiser for the project this year. But it wasn't just about money - there was plenty of good golf for the 57 entrants.

Andy Fox, proprietor of No 6 North Square, was the individual winner and Dave Diaz's chairman's team - Dave is chair of the school governors - won the team event prize.

Children who will be using the new classrooms before too long can enjoy their lessons knowing that the grown-ups helped - by playing.