More than 450 students from Oakwood Park Grammar School in Maidstone closed their laptops to take part in a day of practical volunteering in the community.

The boys divided into groups to lend support to 20 good causes across the borough. Some raised money for Battersea Dogs Home and the Heart of Kent Hospice by packing bags for shoppers at Marks and Spencer and at Sainsbury’s in the town centre.

Others lent a hand in local primary schools, and a good number got their hands dirty carrying out conservation work at the Hayle Park Nature Reserve in Tovil and the Vinters Valley Nature Reserve at Vinters Park.

The enthusiasm of the youngsters certainly impressed those they helped.

Dennis Usmar of the Valley Conservation Society ran the work parties at Hayle Park. He said: “They worked really hard. We split them into two groups, one half collected rubbish along a wooded area at Hayle Park Nature Reserve while the other half removed loose rag-stone lying on the ground in Crisbrook Meadow. Afterwards they raked up the foliage making some habitat piles along the wood edge.

“Nothing we gave them seemed to wear them out. They were a great help and I hope everybody enjoyed the day as much as we did!”

Oakwood’s headmaster Kevin Moody said: “This is a tremendous achievement for all the boys and staff involved. I am very proud of the way in which our students have risen to the challenge.”