A bumper crop of potatoes has won the children at St Francis School in Falmouth a Buddy Bench where youngsters feeling a little alone or upset can sit in the knowledge someone will come along to boost their spirits.

Each year the Potato Council runs a competition when schools from across the south west are invited to grow their own potatoes. Branston, one of the UK’s largest potato suppliers, provide the seed potatoes and it is up to the children to plant, nurture and eventually harvest the crop.

At St Francis, the project began in March when year five students planted the spuds. They then collected them in June and washed and weighed them.

The scales showed the pupils had managed to grow 3,270g of prime potatoes which put them at the top of the south west table and won the school the brightly coloured Buddy Bench.

Ian Wait, representing Branston, visited the school last week and presented the bench to the children.

He said: “We’re delighted to support the Potato Council’s grow your own potatoes initiative once again. The children get so much out of the project, learning all about potatoes and how they grow.”