YOUNGSTERS released balloons to help raise awareness of childhood cancer.

Pupils at Yeadon Westfield Infants wore gold and yellow to school for the launch on Monday which also raised £96 for charity.

The event was organised by Michelle Pattison who has raised thousands of pounds for Candlelighters since her eight-year-old son Owen was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2014.

Owen, who is a pupil at Yeadon Westfield Junior School, initially underwent intensive chemotherapy to fight the disease.

Michelle said her family had received invaluable support from Candlelighters who had helped them from the moment Owen was diagnosed.

The grateful mum raised £1,000 last year with a coffee morning, and a further £400 with a fundraising walk on broken glass with her 15-year-old son, Luke. She has also held fundraising days at the salon where she used to work, and has raised about £200 with a collection.

This year she raised £2,275 with a Pink and Sparkle charity night in Menston. She now hopes to make the event an annual one.