A TEACHING assistant will be swapping the classroom for a motor racing circuit that hosts Formula One races when she tackles a half-marathon for children with life- threatening illnesses .

Paula Crocker will be closing her text books and donning her running shoes to take her marks at the Adidas Silverstone race .

She is hoping to be saved by the bell as she makes a dash for the finish line in aid of children ’s charity Make- A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions.

Mrs Crocker, a teaching assistant for reception class at Kidderminster’s Holy Trinity International School, is hoping to raise £500 by doing three laps of the historic Silverstone racetrack – the home of the British Grand Prix – on Sunday, March 2.

Mrs Crocker said she was determined to complete the 13.1 mile race .

“It’s a fantastic charity, which helps make magical wishes come true for so many children and young people in the UK who have life-threatening illnesses,” she said.

People can sponsor her at justgiving.com/paulacrocker