Maidstone pupils were VIP guests at a reception at Leeds Castle last week.

Children from Archbishop Courtenay, Valley Invicta, Kingswood and West Borough primary schools attended a reception at the castle for winners of green travel and literacy competitions.

They were presented with framed certificates and free-entry tickets to the castle or Wildwood animal park near Herne Bay.

Archbishop Courtenay’s Nightingales class and Valley Invicta’s Jay class won October inter-school challenges with walk-to-school scheme Super Wow.

Kingswood’s Chestnut class and West Borough’s Sycamore class won competitions with reading-reward initiative Buster’s Book Club.

Both schemes are run by the KM Charity Team. Participating classes compete for Class of the Week trophies, and winners of monthly inter-school challenges are rewarded with tickets to leisure attractions or visits by celebrity storytellers.

The initiatives are supported by organisations including Orbit, Countrystyle Recycling, Golding Vision (part of Golding Homes), Specsavers, Leeds Castle and Kent and Maidstone councils.

KM Charity Team chief executive Simon Dolby said: “Many congratulations to the children picking up their certificates and tickets today.

“They have worked incredibly hard and fully deserve their rewards, and I am confident their schools will notice the benefits in terms of improved literacy standards and child health and well-being.”

To find out more, visit bustersbookclub.co.uk or kmwalktoschool.co.uk.