SCHOOLCHILDREN in Worcester are rummaging through their bags to find old pens to kick off a national campaign.

Worcester-based pen firm Uni-ball is launching its pen appeal to raise cash for Children in Crisis, a UK registered charity that helps children out of poverty through education.

Pupils at Stanley Road Primary School are digging out all their old pens and filling their school's collection box - and schools all over Worcestershire are being encouraged to join them in clearing out their pencil cases.

The pen appeal has been timed to coincide with the end of the school year to encourage children and parents to make their back-to-school stationery clear out a few weeks earlier than usual before the summer holidays.

Uni-ball will provide a pen collection box for each school participating in the appeal.

Then the race is on - from Monday, June 4, until Friday, July 13 - to fill the collection box with as many old pens as possible.

The first school to fill its collection box wins 250 new Jetstream pens.

Children in Crisis will, in turn, receive a cash donation from Uni-ball, plus 1,000 new pens.

Any school wishing to take part in uni-ball's Pen Appeal, supporting Children in Crisis, should contact Kathryn McKendrick at uni-ball on 01905 755043 or e-mail Kathryn.mckendrick@mpuni.co.uk