MEDAL winning Invictus Games athletes have been inspiring pupils who gained their first taste of working in industry.

Year 12 students at Barnard Castle School, in Barnard Castle, planned and delivered a marketing campaign for the injured servicemen’s games.

Invictus athletes Anna Kelton and Paul Nichol judged the closely fought competition.

A former student, Ms Kelton was badly injured during a training exercise with the Royal Navy in 2011 and now uses a wheelchair.

She holds two gold medals in endurance and sprint rowing from the Invictus Games, for which she is also an ambassador.

Mr Nichol, of Ashington, served in the Royal Army Medical Corp until he broke his back in a sporting accident.

He now plays wheelchair rugby and holds a bronze team medal.

“The students came up with some fantastic ideas with which to market the games,” he said.

Barnard Castle School’s business and IT teacher, Nick Connor said: “The students really threw themselves into the event and completed at least a week’s work in about five hours.

“The event helped our young people develop so many skills, from engendering teamwork and honing IT, to managing their time, coping with pressure and being creative.”

Student Fin Edward, 17, of Richmond, added: “The event gave us a real insight into the world of marketing and also a greater understanding of the Invictus Games, our armed forces and living with a disability.”