DEDICATED students who spent weekends raising money for a new school bus have had their efforts rewarded.

Students participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) scheme at Darlington’s Longfield Academy of Sport gave up their free weekend time to undertake supermarket bag packs and other sponsored events.

Their efforts raised more than £2,000 to make a significant contribution towards a new school minibus, which was supplied by Simon Bailes Peugeot and recently handed over to headteacher Susan Johnson by managing director Simon Bailes himself.

The 17 seat, wheelchair-enabled, minibus will allow many more pupils to benefit from curriculum-based field trips, such as science and geography outings.

Andy Collishaw, finance director at Longfield Academy, said: “This was a fantastic group of young people, who were a credit to the school, their families and themselves.

“The volunteering section of the DofE enables the young people to give up their time to help others and change things for the better and this has certainly been the case.”

He added: “Simon Bailes Peugeot has done an amazing deal for us and we’re very grateful that, with school funds, money raised by the DofE students and Simon Bailes’ goodwill and support we can take delivery of the new minibus.”

Mr Bailes said it was “a pleasure” to supply the bus, adding: “It was particularly pleasing that the pupils have done such a great job fundraising and they will be even more invested in making the most of the new opportunities the minibus will bring.”