FOURTEEN teenagers have been praised for giving up three days of their summer holidays to carry out vital community work on their estate in Gainsborough.

The 13 to 16-year-olds were part of the StreetForce 4 project run by the Gainsborough uphills neighbourhood policing team. It involved creating the foundations for a sensory garden at a primary school and completely repainting the outside walls of the vandal-hit adventure playground building off Riseholme Road.

Volunteers Luke Robinson, Stephen Cooper and Terry Mountcastle start work on the St Georgeâs sensory garden.

And their reward was a trip to the Walesby Activity Centre in neighbouring Nottinghamshire for a day of challenging fun and activities.

The police teamed up with the district council, Gainsborough Adventure Playground Association, St George's CofE Community Primary School and the Freiston Centre for Environmental Education.

After a day's painting at GAPA, the teenagers and their supervisors moved the short distance to Lindsey Close create the St George's sensory garden.

Despite torrential rain, the youngsters battled on and returned a week later to complete the job.

And they all survived the raft-building challenge and 45-foot climbing wall at Walesby.

GAPA manager Lisa Pinkney was "delighted" with the new look and St George's finance manager Cassie Brooks said: "They all worked really hard because we needed the manpower as part of the £5,000 Greener Projects programme."

The school secured funding to run a serious of schemes including the garden, a recycling area and a wildlife corner.

Ryan Harker, 14, said: "It was excellent. I really enjoyed painting GAPA and the reward day."

Luke Robinson said: "I enjoyed creating the sensory garden at St George's, especially all the cups of tea!"

Organiser PC Ian Shaw revealed that most of the 14 had approached him asking to take part.

"Hearing their comments and the gratitude expressed by staff at GAPA and St George's School confirms the importance of projects like these," he said.

"Engaging with these young people is challenging and immensely satisfying. They have demonstrated wonderful commitment to the project."