YOUNGSTERS at Brighton's Hertford County Primary School had a helping hand as they joined the race to collect tokens for the fantastic Argus Disneyland Paris promotion.

Former EastEnders star Paul Moriarty, who played shady George Palmer, joined pupils as they hunted through the paper.

The Argus is giving a class of 35 children and 15 chaperones the chance to be whisked off to spend three nights in magical Disneyland Paris.

And an educational sight-seeing trip of the elegant French capital will also be thrown into the all-expenses paid trip.

More than 29,000 school children across Sussex are currently searching the pages of The Argus each day to make sure it's their school which wins the Ultimate Laugh and Learn Experience.

Children at Hertford County Primary are determined to be in with a good chance of winning, and were delighted when their special guest arrived.

Joe Banse said: "I haven't been abroad before so it would be great."

And EastEnders fan Hannah Rolf, eight, added: "I would like to go because of all the rides and I would like to meet all the different characters."

Tamara Davis, eight, has a whole selection of Disney videos and wants to win the trip to meet the characters in person.

Head teacher Roz Smart said: "The children were massively excited when they heard about the chance to go to Disneyland Paris, and there was a huge cheer in assembly when they heard Paul was coming to the school.

"Lots of children and parents have asked me about the trip after reading about it in the paper."

Paul, who lives in Saltdean, said: "Good luck to all the children who are taking part. Being a child is about having fun.

"Anything that supports children in this world which has been messed up by adults is a good thing, and I hope the winners have a great time."

Since the launch of the first tokens on Monday, thousands of children have been hunting through the Argus for them.

Every day for the next six weeks tokens will be printed on page 2, with others hidden throughout the paper.

The winners will be announced in June, and the school will then choose the class to go to Paris.

Runners-up prizes include computers and software equipment to help pupils in the classroom.

Sponsorship is being provided for the Disneyland Paris trip by Pavilion Internet, Southern Water and American Express.

Contact reporter Cathy Caws with your news of how the competition is doing in your school on 001273 544532.

For all the up-to-the-minute news of the competition log in to our website at www.thisis brighton.co.uk And if there are any problems competition co-ordinator Laura Digweed can be contacted on 001273 544722 or 001444 235100.

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