Children form three Watford schools enjoyed a trip to Tesco this morning to collect valuable classroom and sports equipment.

The pupils, from Knutsford, Field and Chater schools, were reaping the rewards of the company’s Equipment for Schools programme, where parents’ shopping vouchers are exchanged for sporting and high-tech gadgets.

The children, whose parents, family and friends had collected more than 60,000 vouchers in the last 12 weeks, posed for photographs with supermarket staff and MP Richard Harrington at the store, in Lower High Street.

Jacqueline Jaeffs, classroom assistant at Chater School, explained: “It’s a really important scheme because it allows us to buy equipment that we otherwise could not afford.

"It also teaches the children that if you really want things like this you have to save up to buy them.”

Goodies taken back to classrooms included new video cameras, library books, and football and rugby equipment.

Ten-year-old Freya Shah, of Field Junior School, said: “I really like using the computers we’ve already got [from the scheme] and I’m also looking forward to using the new flip [video] cameras as well.”

Tesco service manager Lou Williams added: “It is really satisfying for us to get involved with local schools and see for ourselves where all this stuff goes.”

Mr Harrington said: “I think it is very good that socially responsible companies like Tesco do so much in the community. For me it is always a pleasure to meet local children.”