AN EAST Lancashire art student braved the cold and jumped into the sea to raise money for an exhibition of her work.

Hayley Welsh, from Stanhill Street, Oswaldtwistle, is studying for a degree in scientific and natural history illustration at Blackpool and The Fylde College.

She and two fellow course-mates are putting on an extra exhibition of their work in London in June, and need to raise £1,000 to fund it.

After raising hundreds with a sponsored "dunk" in the sea at Blackpool on Tuesday, the girls are open to suggestion for their next fund-raiser.

Former St Wilfrid's High School pupil Hayley, 22, said: "We're in our third year, and alth-ough there will be an exhibition for all of us on the course, we wanted to do one that would allow us to display more of our work."

Hayley, Becky Robinson, from Lytham, and Amy Offland, from Melton Mowbray, have booked a small gallery near Baker Street for their exhibition from June 23 to 28, and now need to raise the money.

A bikini-clad Hayley and Becky raised nearly £400 by spending 10 minutes in the sea near Lytham.

Hayley, who did A-levels at St Mary's College and completed an art foundation course at Blackburn College before starting the course, said: "It was absolutely freezing and we didn't think we'd be able to last the 10 minutes, but we were helped by some nearby kite-surfers who came over to ask what on earth we were doing!

"But we were really pleased with how much we raised, as it's a good chunk of what we need."

Now the trio are planning other sponsored challenges to reach their target.

"I suggested doing a sponsored streak, but the other two weren't really up for it. We're happy to do quite old-school things like custard pies in the face, but if anyone wants to suggest anything then they can. We've set up an ideas box at college."

They also want to help raise the profile of the course, which teaches the fundamentals of drawing animals.

Hayley said: "I love the course. I've always loved art and I grew up in a farming environment so I was interested in animals.

"Numbers of students have been falling and I really wouldn't want to see the course cancelled."

  • Fund-raiser suggestions can be emailed to hew-art@hotmail.co.uk.