A GROUP of secondary school pupils have received national recognition for their role in a pilot project to help pensioners in the community find out more about information technology.

The Gener-active scheme, at The Norton School, Norton, started in January after residents were invited to take a look around the school's newly equipped resource centre.

One visitor expressed an interest in coming into the centre to learn about computing and Gill Sangster, resource centre manager, decided to give his idea a go.

A group of year ten pupils, who volunteered to give up their spare time after school, were drafted in to join forces with an adult tutor to help the residents learn some basic computer skills.

Now the youngsters have been rewarded for their efforts with Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Awards for their outstanding contribution to the school and com- munity.

Ms Sangster said: "This is no less than the students deserve. They have been marvellous, and have willingly given up their free time to help others. They are a real credit to the school."

Meanwhile, the pensioners have gained their Open College Network Accreditation in Computers Together and, as the scheme proved so popular, a new course is running.