Hearty congratulations are in order to a group of schoolchildren who have raised a staggering amount of money for a cause close to many hearts in Hampstead.

Pupils at UCL Academy in Swiss Cottage rattled buckets, sold cakes and sang in a charity concert last term to raise a whopping £1,266.74 for King’s College London’s Ebola Appeal.

The funds will be used to send specialist doctors to Sierra Leone to help fight the deadly virus.

The news is particularly welcome following the news last week that nurse Pauline Cafferkey is being treated for the virus at Hampstead’s Royal Free Hospital, the only centre in the UK equipped with an isolation ward to treat Ebola patients.

The Adelaide Road academy’s fundraising efforts were part of a drive by Hampstead lawyer Jessica Learmond-Criqui to encourage Camden schools to raise money for the appeal.

Principal Geraldine Davies told Heathman: “I am extremely proud of the efforts of all students and staff involved in this fundraising drive as Ebola is still very much prevalent and has been highlighted in the media recently.”

Well done to all those involved.