ABOUT 200 pairs of bare feet left St Thomas More’s Primary School on the last day of term.

When the home-time bell rang, children at the school in Priory Street, Colchester, took off their shoes and walked out of school barefoot.

And for a very short time the pupils knew the challenge faced by the 300 million children across the world who cannot afford to wear shoes, leaving them susceptible to foot injuries which are often left untreated.

So instead of the used shoes being binned, the school will send each pair to Sal’s Shoes, a charity which aims to provide shoes for children in need all over the world.

The man behind the plans is senior teacher Dave Peck.

He said: “The parents have been really supportive.

“We have actually run out of boxes.

“Everybody really liked the idea as it fits in really well with our ethos.

“We do a lot of thinking about other people and everyone was really keen.”

Noah Langford, ten, former deputy head boy at the school, was very passionate about the cause.

He said: “I wanted to do it because I like helping people who are less fortunate than me.

“I feel like if I am wasting money I’m stopping people from living.

“I felt really bad since I waste a lot of money on toys.”

The shoes were collected in bins and parents provided the children with spare shoes to walk home in.

New head boy George Cooper, also ten, added: “First of all my old shoes were taking up lots of space and we had nowhere to put them.

“I really wanted to give them to people as it’s a good idea to give them things we do not want any more.

“I think they will be happy and thankful.”

The children were told about the charity during an assembly, and were very keen to get involved and help others.

Lola Johns, ten, former head girl, said: “I really wanted to do it because I felt really sad after hearing some people in the world do not have any shoes.

“I really wanted to help, I have all these shoes as I love shopping and I can only use them for about a year then they are wasted.

“I don’t think it’s fair, maybe they can make shoes a cheaper price so people can afford them.”

To find out more about the charity visit salsshoes.com/toe- to-toe.