Pupils from aprimary school in Kensal Rise journeyed down south in a special trip to the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) to commemorate Ocean and Earth Day.

A group of 16 children from ARK Franklin Primary Academy in Harvist Road, visited the iconic centre in Southampton and took a tour of the new research boat, RRS Discovery, which launched last year.

The vessel, which contains seven state-of-the-art laboratories and a detachable submarine, is one of just four ships owned by the Natural Environment Research Council, used to conduct under sea scientific research.

Ocean and Earth Day is special event organised by the NOC, which showcases research that have taken place in the deep blue.

Bethan Thomas, headteacher at the Brent school, said: “This was an exciting opportunity to develop our children’s interest in science and watch their enthusiasm grow.”