A POPULAR family of penguins have been welcomed back to their seafront home by a group of pupils from a nearby school.

The nine distinctive models are back in place at Redcar after a short winter break while work progressed on the £30m regeneration of the seafront.

The figures, which created by the Great British Bollard Company and were refurbished by Foden Spence in Stokesley, were welcomed back by children from Errington Primary School.

Headteacher Christine Stinson said: “The pupils are delighted to welcome the penguins back home to their seafront location.

“They really enjoyed visiting Foden Spence when the penguins were being refurbished and to see them return to the seafront will be a real treat.”

The £30m regeneration of the seafront, by Redcar and Cleveland Council and the Environment Agency, includes new sea defences and improvements to the promenade.

Councillor Olwyn Peters, the council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism, said: “The penguins are one of the North-East coast’s best-loved attractions and their return to the seafront is great news for the town.

“The improvements to the promenade look fantastic and I can’t wait to see residents and visitors to Redcar enjoying everything it has to offer.”