COMMUNITY groups in Weymouth and Portland received a welcome boost thanks to the help of local school pupils.

Nature areas were spruced up, fences were painted and pavements were given a tidy.

More than 200 Budmouth College students headed out and about around the borough to help with various projects.

They went on visits to local schools, went along footpaths and also got involved at museums to provide a helping hand.

The year 10 pupils were taking on activities such as removing large weeds alongside the cycleway in Southill so that residents can plant wild flowers in the area next year.

Some local parks received a much-needed paint job for some of their swings and the fences of local children’s nurseries also received a splash of colour.

Holes were also dug in Southill in preparation for the autumn when daffodils will be planted by pupils from Southill Primary School.

There were also pupils helping out along the Rodwell Trail, as well as at Portland Museum.

The help from the pupils meant that the Portland Museum could be open for an extra day.

Those helping in Southill were rewarded for their hard work with ice cream at lunchtime in the church hall, provided by grateful residents.

And for some, it was a task close to home, as they too are residents of Southill and got to appreciate how much effort goes in to keeping the local area clean and tidy.

David Harris, a school governor at Budmouth College, enjoyed seeing the pupils out doing their bit for the community.

He said: “We had 200 youngsters from Budmouth out and about doing all sorts of things.

“The residents here in Southill were very pleased to see the young people doing some of this work.

“Some of the pupils do actually live in Southill and they appreciate that it does take a little bit of effort to keep it looking nice and to stop other people from spoiling it for others.”

Coming outdoors to thank the youngsters for their efforts was mayor of Weymouth and Portland Christine James, who is also a ward councillor for the area.

Mr Harris said that it was great to have Cllr James there showing her support and thanks for the help the young people were giving.

He said: “Being the local councillor as well as the mayor, Christine was delighted to come and chat with the students and thank them for their efforts and for what they were doing.”