HEREFORD'S Whitecross High School has launched a fundraising initiative to secure specialist sports college status.

It must raise £50,000 from the community by March to gain the funding required to turn the comprehensive into one of the leading sports centres in the county.

Headteacher Denise Strutt believes it is possible to raise the money - despite the lack of available time.

"We are targeting everybody from the biggest employer in the county to individuals and parents," she said.

"We don't need the cash by March, we only need the money pledged. If we do get a figure of £50,000 we can expect to receive around £600-700,000 over the next few years, which will be invested in the school to provide excellent facilities for the students and the community as a whole," she added.

Teachers and governors at the school ideally hope to develop the specialist sports college away from their present Baggallay Street home.

They are looking at two bids from private contractors to build a new £21.8 million school on farmland off Three Elms Road.

The winning design will be announced and put forward for public inspection in late February.