A KEIGHLEY school friends group is top of the class.

The Friends of Phoenix Special School have won the 'community links' category of the national PTA-UK Gold Star Awards.

The group received its award at a glittering ceremony in London fromTV presenters David and Carrie Grant and Jonny Mitchell, star of the hit Channel 4 series Educating Yorkshire.

It was presented with a £1,000 cheque, in addition to the £500 each finalist received.

The award, sponsored by Liberty Mutual Insurance Ltd, is in recognition of the friends' work engaging with the community.

Judges said a 'stay and play' scheme launched at the school by the group, offering holiday activities to youngsters, had proved successful.

Jason Patefield, community co-ordinator at the school, said: “We are thrilled. It means so much to us and makes all the hard work worthwhile."