Former pupils at a Camden secondary school, including a comedian who warms up the audience on The Graham Norton Show, returned this week to launch a charitable trust to provide it with extra funding support.

Parents and governors at Acland Burghley School, in Burghley Road, Tufnell Park, set up the trust to fill a funding gap left by national education cuts.

Despite being a new initiative, the Acland Burghley School Trust is already funding six outdoor table tennis tables, two “around-the-tree” benches and a music teacher to lead a school orchestra.

Mayor of Camden Cllr Jonathan Simpson, teachers, parents, alumni and current students were all present to celebrate the launch of the trust at an evening of variety entertainment.

Comedian Joe Bor, a former pupil and teaching assistant at the school, provided the laughs while a trio of siblings, all alumni, performed a rockabilly music set.

Mr Bor, who warms up the audience on Graham Norton’s chat show and panel show Mock The Week, said: “I love the school and I am very proud to have gone there, so anytime I am asked to do something for them, I am willing to help.”