A memorial bench has been unveiled in memory of a former Radipole School teacher who inspired generations of children.

Neil Arnold taught at Radipole Primary School in Weymouth for 25 years but sadly passed away on May 1 2015 at the age of 76.

His family gathered at the school on Friday, along with current students and teachers, to mark the unveiling of his memorial.

The memorial is a wooden bench with two birds carved in it to represent Mr Arnold's passion for nature. On the bench it reads: 'Neil Arnold, who loved this place'.

It is positioned on the edge of the school's nature reserve, which was established by Mr Arnold. It is in addition to a stone in the grounds to already mark his inspiration.

His family, including his much-loved partner to Chris, daughters Jane, Katharine and Jessica and granddaughters to Hana, Bethan and Charlotte, gathered round the bench to remember him.

His daughter Jane said: "I want to thank everyone who was involved in this, my dad would have been immensely proud of such an hour and recognition.

"This is a very important place for all of us as a family. We all came to this school and we all have such happy memories of our time here.

"Our dad was one in a million.

"He was renowned for stopping half way through a lesson if he had spotted a bird. He would get his binoculars out and would try identify the species - and get the class involved too. There was never a dull moment.

"All of us can also clearly remember arriving early at school before the other children had arrived and clambering up the ladders onto the school roof to help dad empty the moth trap and help set it up for the next day - something you definitely would do these days!

Mr Arnold was awarded an MBE in 1998 in the New Years Honours list for his services to education and his dedication to improving children's life through education and to learn about and appreciate the outdoor world around them,

He wrote four books based on his findings and research and also received the RSPB president’s award from Magnus Magnusson that recognised his work in conservation in the late 1980s.

Radipole headteacher Veronique Singer said: "The children absolutely love the new bench. There is always children sitting on it. It's the perfect way to remember him."

Jane added: "This is a great honour to our father and his legacy will live on."