STUDENTS are helping Darlington’s vulnerable by collecting goods for a local food bank.

A huge collection of tinned and dried goods was donated by St Aidan’s Academy students during a harvest festival act of worship for St Columbus Church food bank.

Principal Nicole Gibbon told students: “We have had such tremendous support from the Darlington community over the past year in particular, so we wanted to dedicate our harvest festival to a local food bank.

“Our students wanted to achieve something collectively to say thank you to Darlington and help the wonderful community that has helped us.”

Director of Learning Maths David Spenceley led the act of worship that highlighted the plight of people around the world who do not have enough to eat – including residents of Darlington.

“My grandfather was a farmer and I wanted to be one too,” he said. “I loved the thought of preparing the land, sowing the seed and nurturing the crops.

“But I am a teacher not a farmer, though in many ways St Aidan’s is doing a similar job.

“It is an environment that is safe and fertile for young minds, where seeds of knowledge are sown and where outstanding teachers nurture and feed learning to help students progress and grow.”