YOUNGSTERS experienced beginners' luck when they entered the Northumbria in Bloom competition and came away with a prize.

Children at Hartburn Primary School, in Stockton, picked up an award of merit in the Rod Leyburn Memorial Trophy for the best school horticultural project.

The school has a number of gardening clubs and has carried out work to improve the school grounds, creating numerous summer flowerbeds.

The youngsters also shone in a competition run by Care For Your Area, in which pupils were asked to design a themed bed for the school entrance, in which they created a border with the school's initials in it.

They came away with two winning entries and they also helped Care For Your Area staff in planting the beds, despite never having taken part in competitions before.

Yesterday, Stockton Borough Council's recycling mascot, Freda the Frog, turned up at the school when pupils were presented with certificates by Mayor Councillor Mick Stoker.

Headteacher Tom Gittins said he was proud of his pupils, and hoped this was just the beginning.

"The children were involved in growing and planting things in school, which involved a lot of work from them and teachers," he said.

"This has been a really hands-on experience for them, and a lot of them had never grown anything before.

"We have flowerbeds at the front of the school and a wildlife and emerging area at the back of the school. We've even grown veg.

"It's been a great success, so we definitely hope to do it again next year."