AN expedition across 30 kilometres of rugged moorland has been completed by nearly 60 students from Wiveliscombe in the quest to earn the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.

The students of Kingsmead Community School hiked the distance over Dartmoor last weekend, aided by a team of more than 30 adults.

After meeting at the school at 7.30am on Saturday morning, the students travelled by minibus and cars to six different starting points.

Each group planned its own route covering 20 kilometres on Saturday and a further 10 kilometres on Sunday.

Having been dropped off at their chosen start points, they went through various checkpoints on their way to the campsite at Runnage Farm.

The students had to carry their food and camping equipment with them and use map reading and compass skills to navigate their way to the overnight stop.

There was plenty of time to cook and eat their evening meal before doing the dreaded washing up.

But then there was time to relax and play games to use up any surplus energy in the campsite beside Walla Brook.

An early start on Sunday morning gave the teams time to cook some interesting food for breakfast. Sore feet were patched up and kit was forced back into rucksacks before all groups set out for their final destinations and were transported back to school.

A school spokesman said: "Everyone arrived back safely but tired on Sunday afternoon leaving plenty of time to recover before school on Monday.

"More than 30 adults gave up their weekend to make the expedition a success. The adults who were the assessors and marshals were made up of staff, ex-members of staff, husbands and wives of staff, parents, former students, and parents of former students.

"Without the willing help of these volunteers the expedition could not take place."