PUPILS from one Vale school were delighted to receive a prestigious environmental award marking almost four years of hard work.

Defford First School children were presented with an Eco Schools Green Flag award last Thursday by BBC Hereford & Worcester Radio gardener Reg Moule. The children have created a garden, a bird feeding station and a willow whale sculpture as part of the scheme.

Headteacher Janet Brown said: "The children are absolutely delighted with their award - we are such a small school and to get this major award is a great achievement. We are in such a pretty village we knew we had to keep our environment safe."

The school will be inspected every three years to ensure their green flag status is maintained.