TROUBLED teenagers have been making amends by helping to build an eco-greenhouse at an Abingdon primary school.

The six youngsters, aged between 15 and 17, helped build it out of wood and recycled plastic bottles found by pupils of Rush Common School.

The teenagers were sent to help the school by Oxfordshire County Council ’s Youth Offending Service.

Dan Latimer, site manager of Rush Common School, said: “It looks fantastic, if not better than we expected.

“It was a great collaboration with the young offenders and staff and pupils at Rush Common.

“They do get a great deal out of it. Of course they don’t want to be here because it is a punishment.

“But what they gain is construction skills and experience working as a team.”

The greenhouse will allow the school pupils to grow their own plants and learn about food production.

The Youth Offending Service has been working with the school for more than 10 years.

Former reparation projects at the school have included a nature reserve, painting an extension and general maintenance.