A HEADTEACHER has praised four pupils who were photographed buying food for a homeless man on their way home from school.

Jack McGill, Cameron Turner-Neill, Charlie Hirst and 11-year-old Sam pooled their money to buy chocolate biscuits, water and cereal bars for the man after noticing he looked upset and unwell.

The boys, who attend Woodham Academy in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, spotted the man, aged about 50, sitting on a bench in the town centre and were concerned about him.

A passer-by photographed their act of kindness and posted it on Facebook, prompting widespread praise for the boys.

Cameron, 12, said: “Jack went over to see if he was okay and sat down next to him. The man asked if he had had a nice day at school and they started chatting. He said he was from London and had been homeless for nine years.

“He was very nice and you could tell he was well educated.

“He used to be a joiner and a carpenter and lived in a flat but it got rented out. He has been walking around the country and had just walked from Stockton."

The boys said the man had refused to take money from a pensioner who also tried to help and was reluctant to accept the food they bought.

Jack, 12, said: “When we brought the food over he said he didn’t want it but we insisted. He had a bag so we helped him put it in there.

“It’s important to help other people."

Charlie, 11, said: “I was upset when I saw him. It made me think I should be more grateful for the things I’ve got when I saw how grateful he was for those small things.”

Sam added: “It has made me want to help my mum more and be more grateful because he doesn’t have a mum.”

Christine Forsyth, headteacher at Woodham Academy, said: “At Woodham Academy we teach pupils to respect other people and this is a wonderful example of our children showing unconditional respect for another human being. We are really proud of them.”

On Facebook, one woman wrote: “Lovely to see. What lovely young lads to do such a good thing .”

Another posted: “And there it is to all you people out there that think all teenagers are all anti-social. Here are some fantastic boys. They are a credit to their parents.