EYES were turned to the skies when hundreds of red balloons floated over Caversham to raise cash for one of the UK’s biggest charities.

The fundraising drive was spearheaded by brothers Gabriel Arbuthnot Whittaker, seven, and his 10-year-old brother Solomon, who encouraged pupils at Micklands Primary School to get behind the British Heart Foundation’s Ramp up the Red event on Friday, February 7.

The pair were inspired to start collecting after hearing about a friend’s father, who has been diagnosed with heart failure and is on the waiting list for a heart transplant.

Children donated their pocket money to release a red balloon and parents ran a bake sale to help raise more than £300.

The pair’s mother, Justine, said: “It’s all about raising awareness about heart disease and organ donation.

“there are people out there desperate to receive an organ transplant which will transform their lives.

“The British Heart Foundation also conducts research into the many causes of heart disease.”

Headteacher Sharon Jones added: “We are delighted to support this important charity. We have had a lot of fun while raising money for a very worthy cause.”