A NORTH-EAST school has been named runner-up in the Animal Ark RSPCA animal-friendly school of the year.

Valley View Nursery School, Newcastle upon Tyne, received £500 in Hodders book vouchers as runners-up.

Two years ago it turned a field into a wildlife garden, where pupils, staff and parents have put in thousands of hours of work.

Mikhaela Miller, editor of Animal Action magazine, said judging the entries had been "truly inspiring".