The silence over Furtherwick Park School, Canvey, was deafening when around 140 pupils shut up for the day.

Silence is golden - pupils present their fundraising efforts to David Forster for Macmillan Cancer Relief Picture: ROB BROWNE

They each embarked on a taxing Hold Your Tongue challenge and together raised nearly £800 for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

The money - which included the proceeds of a Christmas concert - was presented to the charity's representative, David Forster.

School spokeswoman Marion Walford said: "Some of them found it hard, but it focussed their minds about what they were doing it for."

Published Tuesday, May 20, 2003

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