STUDENTS Sara Eldrett and Chris Bowden gained their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award during a month in Kenya.

Sara, 17, and Chris, 18, from Newton Aycliffe, who have just returned from Africa, spent the first week-and-a-half of their trip at a Kenyan Scout camp, working with street children.

They took the children on excursions in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, to the Ngong hills and the caves once used by the Mao Mao terrorist movement.

Sara and Chris then climbed the summit of the second highest mountain in Africa, 16,350ft Mt Kenya, over five days.

After the ascent, the team were greeted with a traditional Kikuyu celebration feast, where a goat was sacrificed and the blood offered around to drink as a sign of courage.

Sara, who attends Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington, said: "The trip gave me a lot of confidence and I loved every minute of it. I hope to return to Kenya next year to see the progress of the children."

Chris, also a student at the college, said: "Seeing the change we made to the street kids was unbelievable."

The pair are both members of the Duke of Edinburgh Award group at Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre.

Anyone aged 14 and upwards who would like to join the scheme can contact Fiona Callaghan on (01325) 312520.