TAVISTOCK College Surf Academy students are to host a fun packed beach day for disadvantaged children, using money raised during a sponsored endurance paddle.

Students from the academy — run by teacher Pete Keegan and learning mentor Dan Kinsman — notched up 13 miles paddling surfboards at Meadowlands Leisure Pool, smashing last year's seven mile record.

The students will use the funds raised to support West Devon-based charity Country Holidays for Inner City Kids (CHICKS) and purchase a 'Go Pro' board mounted video camera to help with surf technique analysis.

Mr Keegan said: 'The students and I paddled for two gruelling hours, completing over 100 lengths each. We had a target distance of 10 miles so I'm extremely pleased we beat it by quite some way and almost doubled last year's tally.

'Really well done to the fantastic and very generous students who raised a substantial amount of sponsorship for charity.

'Thank you also to Meadowlands Leisure Pool which hosted the event with full lifeguard cover, at no cost to the academy.'

The academy's next event will see the students team up with CHICKS and host a beach day for 16 youngsters staying in Devon.

The day will include a surf lesson with the surf team members helping out with the instructing, as well as activities to allow all the teenagers to mingle and get to know each other.

'The money we raised will cover things like the cost of the equipment rental for all 16 young people and paying for the fun beach day for our surfers,' added Mr Keegan.

CHICKS spokesperson Ali Hurley said she was thrilled that Tavistock College had volunteered to take the group surfing for the day.

She said: 'It's fantastic that these young people are giving their time to support those less fortunate than themselves and in doing so are helping to provide new exciting and memorable experiences for those involved.'