STUDENTS who won Sunderland Football Club's award for being good citizens for the second consecutive year were honoured at a ceremony.

The Black Cats' mascot, Samson, visited Wolsingham School and Community College, in Weardale, County Durham, with Katrina Quinn, from the club's charity, the Sunderland Foundation, to present Shining Through awards.

Three pupils received individual honours.

Daniel Bowman, aged 16, helped bring a weekly cinema to his home community of Rookhope and successfully applied for a £2,000 grant for its village hall. He produces a monthly newsletter and supports a wide range of good causes.

Dean Tinkler, 16, from Frosterley, mentors younger pupils and played a leading role in an anti-bullying day as well as progressing well in his studies.

Sixth former Andrew Embleton played a key role in gaining anti-bullying accreditation for the school. He helps to man a lunchtime chat room, works with the Weardale Youth Panel, helped set up a junior parish council in Wolsingham and speaks to assessors and external groups.

Other pupils are involved in a wide range of activities, including raising money for charity, helping younger children with reading, cleaning up litter in the village, recycling paper, supporting younger students on the bus, sitting on a bus charter group, sitting on year and school councils and working with caterers.

Headteacher Andrea Crawshaw said: "I am extremely proud of what our students have achieved inside and outside school.

"It is very important to us in a rural community that we are aware of the people around us and how we can support them.