Pupils at Burhill School will benefit from new playground equipment thanks to funds raised at a masquerade ball.

The Hersham school’s parent teacher association (PTA) hosted the spring ball at Burhill Golf Club on Friday, March 21, with attendees donating £4,500 for the new equipment, which will arrive in time for the school’s first year 3 intake in September.

The money will buy monkey bars to help develop upper body strength, net equipment to help with hand-eye coordination and a smaller A frame for reception children.

With a range of colourful and extravagant masks filling the dance floor, it was headteacher Sally Taylor who grabbed the attention of others with a bespoke makeup mask from Emily Mickelburgh.

Mrs Mickelburgh, who trained at the Surrey Institute of Fine Art and Shepperton Studios, spent two hours creating the masquerade masterpiece with beads and glitter makeup.

Among the highlights of the night was the auction, with parents spending £4,500 on a catalogue of items including an iPad Air, donated by Castle Wildish and children’s bikes and scooters from Wreckless Abandon.

Sarah Swetman, chair of the PTA ball committee, said: “This year, we wanted the money we raise from the ball to go to a specific item, one that would benefit all the children in the school.

“This fantastic new playground equipment has been chosen to help develop the three main skills in physical education; coordination, agility and balance.”

The PTA’s next big fundraiser is the summer fair on Sunday, June 22, in Vaux Mead.