HUNDREDS of pounds has flowed into the Ken Jones statue appeal thanks to the involvement of local schools.

Following an invitation from the Free Press several schools have already organised fundraising days.

And last week children from Blaenavon Heritage Voluntary Controlled Primary School, based at Hillside Primary School and St Peters Church in Wales Primary sites, raised £328.70 for the Ken Jones Memorial Fund by wearing red Welsh rugby shirts.

Cwmffrwdoer Primary School also got involved with the action and raised more than £100.

The fund now stands at over £10,000 but with a target in excesss of £80,000 there is still a long way to go.

A shortlist of artists has now been drawn up and they are invited to visit Blaenavon later this month to find out more about Ken Jones and the town where he was born.

The committee working to raise the funds are working on a whole series of fund raising events, ranging from a boxing night in Tredegar in December to rugby matches and concerts.

Ken Jones was born in Blaenavon in 1921 and died in 2006, aged 84. He is best known for his winning try against the All Blacks in 1953 but was also an Olympic medal winning athlete.