An Exmouth school is celebrating after being named as the first winner of a new community award.

Children from Beacon C of E Primary School have been given the Special Youth Pride in Exmouth Award by the Exmouth Tidy Group.

Designed to run alongside the group’s existing Pride in Exmouth Award given to town businesses, the new prize rewards the children for their tidiness, but also for their charity work.

So far this year the children have raised more than �6500 for a project in Burkina Faso with Christian Aid, and made visits to the Manor Lodge residential home and Rose Lodge care home, to help out and engage with elderly people.

The children received their award from Exmouth mayor Sandy Sutton.

Exmouth Tidy Group’s Vivien Duval-Steer said: “We decided to give the award to the Beacon, because not only do staff and children take pride in the cleanliness of their school, but they also love to be involved with the wider community.

“The award has been instigated because, as a group, we feel it is important to encourage our children to be aware of, and care for their environment, but also to care for others in Society.”

School head teacher Sue Lockwood said: “We’re delighted that the children’s love and care of people and places has been recognised by the wider community.”