Young offenders in Abingdon have put something back into the community - by creating a nature reserve at a primary school.

The youngsters, aged between 11 and 18, were involved in the project to improve a pond and wildlife area at Rush Common School, in Hendred Way.

Pupils from Year 5 mapped out a blueprint of what they would like to see and the offenders on community service designed and created the resulting reserve - delighting pupils and teachers.

The project got the go-ahead after the school received a grant of £250 following a proposal at the Earth Summit Conference, held in Kidlington in March.

The Vale of White Horse crime reduction team had already donated £1,300 towards the work and a further £100 was put forward by the district council's Sustainability Award scheme.

The regeneration project was co-ordinated by Year 5 teachers Gareth Alcott and Louise O'Hara.

Mr Alcott said: "It was an excellent example of pulling together for the whole school.

"The kids sat down and designed it with everything they wanted, such as the pond, bat boxes and a pontoon for fishing and pond dipping.

"It's going to be used by all the children and will enrich the whole curriculum."

Having come up with a final design, the young offenders rolled up their sleeves and got on with the job of making the pupils' vision become a reality.

Keith Bartley, Oxfordshire County Council's director for children, young people and families, officially opened the pond.

He said: "I have been really impressed with the work of the children at Rush Common who came up with the concept of the new pond and the part that young people, supported by the Youth Offending Service, have played in making this project happen."

Headteacher Maxine Evans said: "The nature reserve has given us a fantastic outdoor classroom that will significantly enrich the pupils' experience.

"This has been made possible due to an example of the Government's Extended Schools Initiative, bringing agencies together for mutual benefit and support."

Mike Simm, the head of the county's Youth Offending Service, added: "This scheme has both helped to provide a worthwhile facility for the school, and given young offenders the opportunity to see that they can do constructive things with their time."