PUPILS from one of the smallest schools in the country travelled to London this week to pick up a national award.

Forest of Teesdale primary, in the farthest reaches of the upper dale, went to the capital to pick up a Heritage Stars Award for the quality of its Langdon Beck Story Walk project.

The school, which boasts just 15 pupils, was represented by Diane Harrison, Hannah Bottomley, Jake Taylor and Fay Pickering, who flew to London on Wednesday with their headteacher Carole Connolly to pick up a £1,500 prize at the British Museum.

Working with professional storyteller Malcolm Green, the children produced two leaflets - Langdon Beck and The Call of the Peewit - describing a 5km circular walk from Langdon Beck Youth Hostel. These included stories and reminiscences of local people.

The pupils helped research stories, learned how to get them across to an audience, recalled their own memorable moments, acted as the catalyst for others to share memories and road-tested the walk and its associated activities.

Mrs Connolly said it had been a worthwhile project, even without the award, because of the interaction between the children and senior citizens to generate the stories.

"It ended up as a celebration of the landscape and culture of upper Teesdale," she added.

The school was nominated for the award by Rosie Cross, Teesdale District Council's arts development officer, who declared herself thrilled to bits by the award.

Mrs Connolly said they had thought about spending the money on something practical such as a new laser printer, but would probably take the pupils for a treat.

instead.

"Nothing is decided yet, but some would like to go to Kingswood adventure centre while others would like a trip to Diggerland," she said. "Either way, it will be a real treat for them."