STUDENTS have received an award for helping with the restoration of a forest school area which was damaged in a fire last year.

Despite the harsh conditions of a wet and windy day in February, a group of students from Sir John Colfox Academy - ranging from years seven to 10 - walked to Allington Hill to repair the area.

Ollie Bowditch, Hannah Moye, Sam Smith, Sam Morris, Chloe Davenport, Leo Robinson, Harvey Combes, Holly Dupon-Jones, Max Cantrell and Joe Harper, accompanied by Mr Dumakkin and Mrs Hicks, worked tirelessly despite the awful conditions.

During the day the students got to see the heavy horses working and learned how they are used in habitats such as Allington Hill, with some of the students even get a chance to drive the horses.

The students formed their own teams and dragged timber to the area before cutting it into lengths. They then used this to create a logpile seat for members of the public to use.

The students - and teachers - were all tired and covered head-to-toe in mud by the end of the day.

Local organisation, the Allington Hillbillies, were so impressed with the attitude of the students in the face of hard work and miserable whether that they presented them with the Young Volunteer of the Year award.

The volunteer award has not been presented since 2016.

Juliet Hicks from Colfox said the award was "a real honour and well deserved".