A team of engineers from RNAS Culdrose were able to make a difference to local children, when they left their engineering classrooms to go “back to school” in Mullion.

The sailors from the ‘engineering training school’, who are learning how to maintain the Royal Navy’s Merlin helicopters in their interactive classrooms, swapped their spanners for paintbrushes when they offered their services to Mullion Primary School recently.

Led by Chief Petty Officer Scott Barnett, whose daughter Paige attends the school, the Culdrose team helped to create a new school sign, repaint the old blue school front fence in bright colours and create a new dog park tethering area so parents can leave their dogs outside the school gates safely.

Scott said: “Culdrose is always keen that its trainees put something back into the local community, but I got a lot out of this project too and I would urge others to get involved in helping out within their local community.

“It was nice for me to witness another teaching environment – I am used to teaching 18 year olds the basics of aircraft maintenance.”

He joked that the last time some of the trainees had done any painting was when they were at primary school themselves.

The engineers were treated to a school lunch as a thank you, which Scott said was “very different” to the dinners he remembered.

Daughter Paige helped the team by drawing a seagull in the wood for the new school sign. She said: “It was really enjoyable because I was able to be creative and do something new, and also spend some fun time with my dad."

Headteacher Carleen Hannaford said: “The front entrance of Mullion Primary School has been transformed in just a few days thanks to the efforts of the team of Royal Navy service personnel from Culdrose ably led by Scott Barnett. “They prepared, painted, had lunch with children and staff, then painted through the afternoon to cheer up our school.

“A fantastic effort, much appreciated, that will be enjoyed for many years to come. We're hugely grateful.”