THREE Tavistock College students have just returned to Devon after a gruelling four-day expedition in the Picos Mountains of Spain, part of their Duke of Edinburgh gold award challenge.

Becky Butland, Carly Greenway and Sian Roe did the training for their expedition on Dartmoor — but the gold award rules state that teams must complete their trip in an area totally unknown to them.

The girls had to spend four days and three nights in the mountains, surviving only on what they could carry.

Sian, who is just 17, said: 'It was brilliant, absolutely fantastic. I've never done anything so hard in my life, because of the mountains and the temperatures, which were reaching 45 degrees in the sun.

'It was very taxing and a bit of a challenge, but we did it.'

The team, which was joined by two other girls from Devon, eventually covered 53 kilometres during their trek, which had to be a minimum of 40 kilometres in length.

'The mountains were gorgeous — and we even got to touch snow at one point!' said Sian, who has now completed all the sections of her gold award.

She has broadcast for hospital radio for her community service, did tap dancing for the physical skill and also plays the guitar.

She has sent her completed award booklet off and will hear later this year whether she will receive the award at Windsor or St James Palace.

Becky and Carly each have one more section of the