THE dark winter night was lit up by 12,000 candles as two schools united to raise money for those in need.

Our Lady's Abingdon (OLA) and neighbouring St Edmund's Primary School have raised £4,000 so far through the Heart of Light event by asking people to sponsor a candle, and are hopeful of more money rolling in.

On Tuesday pupils from St Edmund's arranged the candles in the shape of a giant heart on the tennis courts at OLA before they were lit as darkness fell.

The money will go to a clean water charity and to Rutsya Primary School in Uganda which has mud floors, no running water and where a third of children have disabilities.

OLA head of sixth form David Willcock said the event had gone perfectly.

He said: "It was absolutely fantastic, when all the candles were lit it was like a bonfire, it had a sort of life of its own.

"People found it very inspiring and a lot of people said it was a really touching event.

"This week is the first week of advent and of course Christingle services and Diwali happen around this time of year so there are a lot of festivals of light.

"This was a community project that we could all get behind."

The event was inspired by the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, a Roman Catholic period of prayer launched by Pope Francis.

In the summer pupils from OLA pitched the Heart of Light idea to the Diocese of Portsmouth.

The diocese gave them £700 to get the project up and running and the school then bought 10,000 jam jars to hold the tea lights, with a further 2,000 donated by Peach Croft Farm.

Mr Willcock said: "At Rutsya Primary School there are a lot of orphans and a lot of the pupils live so far away they have to sleep on the floor of the headteacher's study.

"We thought we could do something to help, even £1,000 goes a long way in Uganda.

"The idea was for an event to bring OLA together with a state primary school and do something that everybody could get behind and which expressed God's love for the world."

The event was also supported by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, which sent firefighters along on the day, and Christmas carols were played as the candles were lit.

To sponsor a candle contact the bursary email accounts@olab.org.uk or calling 01235 524658