WHEN it comes to community spirit, Blockley-based fashion designer George Davies has rails of it and local schools are at the top of the list as he launches his brand new label.

Famous for creating Next, George at Asda, and dragging Marks and Spencer out of the doldrums with his Per Una range, George hopes his latest venture, FG4, is going to be just as successful.

So too do six Cotswold schools who are to be the first to showcase the spring and summer range of women's and children's fashion in a series of fundraising fashion shows throughout March.

The range is presented first on Thursday March 12 at Broadway, when St Mary's Catholic Primary School and Broadway First School turn Lifford Hall into a professional catwalk.

Budding models from each school, along with parents and teachers, will be walking the walk and showing the brand new brand to the world.

The range is extensive and created especially to welcome the new season. Both boys and girls are well catered for with eye-catching colours and styles for ages of around two to 11.

The women's clothing is exclusively "dresssy day-time" and "occasion" wear in styles that will suit varying measurements as George states: "Not all women are size eight and six feet tall."

The items are all at reasonable prices and include a special school discount. They range from £7 to £24 for girls' clothing and £4 to £18 for boys' clothes. Women's fashion prices range from £14 to £50.

He added: "I am passionate about supporting the community and schools and this is a great way for schools to raise much wanted funds.

"The schools will sell tickets for the show at £5 each which raises money for them and there will be a pop-up shop and fitting room on the night where people can buy items and take them home with them. Tickets can also be bought online from my website. It is a fun way for schools to be involved and is the first time ever a major clothing brand is launched and presented in this way."

He also says the fashion shows are also a good way for young people to become involved in the fashion industry and he has worked extensively with pupils and students for many years.

He has spearheaded lectures and design competitions involving pupils at all levels of education and offered them a chance to explore their talents and passions at an early age by bringing fashion and education together.

Following Broadway, the range is being showcased in Stratford, Banbury and Cheltenham before culminating in a finale for three schools in Bourton on Friday March 27: The Cotswold School, Great Rissington Primary School and Bourton Primary School.

For more infformation go to www.georgedavies.com