GENEROUS staff and pupils at a Rowley Regis school have raised more than £4,500 to help communities affected by the devastating bush fires in Australia.

St Michael's Church of England Secondary School has so far raised an impressive £4,641 which will be donated to the South Australia Country Fire Service and RSPCA.

Students and staff worked together in their fundraising challenge to hold 'I'm A Teacher Get Me Out of Here', based on the hit ITV reality show.

Hundreds of students watched the event to see their teachers taken on a series of stomach-churning Bushtucker Trial, even using of live maggots, a real snake and slime, all in the name of charity.

Students at the Curral Road school were inspired to take action as their music teacher Emma Burchell, is from Australia and has family who have been affected by the fires.

Emma said she was "blown away" by the generosity students and staff had shown and she is set to personally deliver the money raised to Australia later this month.

Before setting off to deliver the donation, she said: "I am proud to be part of a school that tackles global issues, and encourages students to action care and compassion. Many of our students come from difficult backgrounds and have their own struggles, so to raise near 10,000 Australian dollars in just a couple of weeks, for a suffering country on the other side of the world is incredibly humbling.

"I love that we are encouraging students to be people who are global thinkers who can make a difference, regardless of where they are from.

"I know it will be a great encouragement to our receiving charities, knowing that students on the other side of the world have worked hard to help them.

"I look forward to delivering this generous cheque to our chosen charities, all raised by our Rowley Regis community, as I head out to Australia next week."