A GROUP of teenagers completed a sponsored walk from Boscombe Pier to Hengistbury Head on the hottest day of the year.

The young people trekked the four-mile walk as part of their National Citizen Service and raised money for social action projects they are undertaking as part of their course this summer.

NCS is a government scheme created for all 15 to 17 year olds, with courses taking place during the autumn and summer holidays, offering meaningful activities out of term time.

Programme Leader Anna Garrett said: “They are a really lovely group of teenagers whose community projects include helping care homes, working with local cancer charities and awareness campaigns around climate change and the refugee crisis.”

“It is marvellous to see these young people from all walks of life mixing so well together, meeting new people, gaining confidence and learning life skills which will stand them in good stead for adulthood.”

Bournemouth-based charitable housing association BCHA, which administers the scheme locally, delivers the course in three stages and there is a total of 360 young people participating this summer.

The walk took place on the third week of the four-week programme, for the current cohort of 83 teenagers and they followed it with a week of community work in the local community.