SCHOOLS are battling it out to collect as many vouchers as they can to win a makeover in our SOS competition... and they need your help.

We are offering one lucky primary school a £7,500 facelift courtesy of the Leadbitter Group, an Abingdon-based construction company, in our School Build Save Our Schools competition.

Scores of Oxfordshire schools entered and after a tough decision we announced the 10 finalists.

Children, staff and parents have been working hard leafleting their communities and setting up collection boxes in shops and pubs.

The school with the most vouchers will pocket the prize, and the work will be carried out in the summer holidays.

From new toilet blocks, to bird-watching shelters and amphi- theatres, all the schools are appealingfor help from family, friends, and ex-pupils to send in as many vouchers from their copies of the Oxford Mail as possible, so they can see their dream project built.

Richard Nixon, regional director of Leadbitter, said the company was looking forward to carrying out the work at the winning school.

He said: “It was a tough decision but the 10 finalists are all worthy projects. Now all that’s left to do is wish every school the very best of luck.”

awilliams@oxfordmail.co.uk