ENTERPRISING pupils at a County Durham school are using their new-found business skills to supply water to an African village.

A 16-strong team of teenagers from Fyndoune Community College, at Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, have set up a bottled water business in their school.

The pupils, aged 14 and 15, organise every activity, from buying to marketing, as part of a business project and are diverting all their profits to build a well for a community in the West African state of Ghana.

They have raised more than £1,000 towards the cost and are now looking for sponsorship from North-East businesses to raise the remainder of the £3,000 total.

The pupils set up the business as part of the Changemakers' Social Enterprise Programme, supported by Business Link.

Pupil Charlotte Burn, 15, said: "People in Ghana often have to walk five miles to collect just one bucket of dirty water and we take it so much for granted here.

"Once we had decided we wanted to build a well, then the idea of basing our business project on water seemed a good one."

Teacher Lynda Dixon said: "I am so proud of them, as they are doing a brilliant job and are so enthusiastic and committed.

"This is a student-led project and it has been a huge success. Three of the group gave a talk to more than 70 head teachers and Connexions staff recently, and it was wonderful to listen to them. This project has not only increased their skills, but also boosted their self-confidence and self-esteem."

Edward Smith, of Business Link in County Durham, said: "These projects are all about raising the aspirations of our young people and encouraging entrepreneurship from an early age.

"The Fyndoune pupils have done a wonderful job and this project is a classic example of the many benefits that can come from this funding."

The pupils are now in talks with Durham County Council to see if a project to recycle the empty plastic bottles is viable.