FORMER West Somerset Community College students with a taste for adventure were rewarded with a top accolade at a recent celebration.

Four of the seven teenagers who make up the latest batch of the college's Duke of Edinburgh Award successes returned to their old academic stamping ground to receive their Gold awards in the scheme.

Andrew Miles, Becky Johnson, Rachel Daughtry, Jamie Swann, Sam Moore, Rosa Lewis and Jacob Sanderson completed a series of challenges to achieve the prestigious award.

All seven students are currently enjoying gap years abroad, have begun apprenticeships or embarked on university courses.

Their final expedition in their quest to reach the gold standard was a mixed canoe and walking challenge in Scotland, which began with a two-day hike over the Cairngorm mountains, snow-topped even in July.

A further two days was spent paddling down the River Spey from Aviemore to Grantown, finishing with the aptly named 'washing machine' rapid which managed to give a few of the group a dunking.

Other sections of the award saw the students learning to drive for their skill challenge, becoming avid cyclers to satisfy the physical recreation requirement and gaining their basic expedition leaders award in the volunteering category.

The college's Duke of Edinburgh leader, teacher Caroline Young congratulated the students on their achievement.

"It's no mean feat gaining the Gold Duke of Edinburgh award, what with all the time, commitment and organisation needed, let alone the stamina necessary and challenges set by the expeditions."