GREEN-fingered pupils at Compass School in Millbrook have scooped a gardening award with a helping hand from the city’s port.

The school has been named the winner of the Education category of the Southampton in Bloom competition, after using tools and materials donated by the city’s port to transform the outside courtyard of the school grounds.

It is a double win for Compass School, which also won the gold award in the Wildlife Gardening category.

Pupils of all ages got involved in the project, which was co-ordinated by Learning Through Landscapes.

When staff at Southampton’s port heard about it they leapt to assist, donating everything from wheelbarrows and spades to forks and old railway sleepers.

Clive Thomas, port manager at ABP Southampton, said: “We are incredibly proud of the pupils for winning these awards.

"They really got stuck into the project and the results definitely show. We were more than happy to lend a hand by donating tools and materials and can see they have been put to very good use.”