GREEN fingered pupils at are celebrating, after scooping a top prize in a fruit and vegetable growing competition, launched by a leading homebuilder.

The Atherton St George’s Primary children competed against schools from across the country.

They submitted diary evidence based on the vegetables they had been tasked with growing over a nine month period.

In that time the pupils successfully grew everything from peas to parsnips and carrots to cress and were aptly rewarded with £500 worth of gardening gift vouchers from builders Persimmon Homes to help them continue growing and investing in their garden.

Rachael Coulthard, head teacher at the school, said: “We are thrilled to have been rewarded with the money and the vouchers, which will help us to improve our garden no end.

“All of the children thoroughly enjoyed getting their hands dirty and learning how to grow their own vegetables which has encouraged them to become more aware of their diet as well as where vegetables come from.

“It was a great competition to get involved with and we hope to just as well again next year.”

Mark Cook, Persimmon’s managing director, and sales director Diane England, visited the school to hand over the prize money.

An impressed Diane said: “The school thoroughly deserved the prize. The children showed clear evidence that they had put a great deal of effort into their fruit and vegetable crops as well as creativity with their diary.

“We hope that the vouchers will go to good use and that the school enters the competition again next year.”