SCHOOLBOYS shattered the stereotypes given to teenagers when they came to the aid of a stranger in distress.

A group of pupils from Buxton School in Leytonstone have been recognised for their community spirit after they helped a pensioner in Langthorne Park.

On their way home from a sixth-form opening day the boys found an elderly man lying on a park bench.

Noticing he seemed to be slipping in and out of consciousness the boys called for an ambulance.

They put him in the recovery position to make sure he could breathe properly and comforted him for over an hour until the emergency services arrived.

They later helped guide paramedics to the scene and assisted in getting the man into an ambulance.

The teens have now been nominated for a Jack Petchey Award as recognition for their community-minded actions.

One of the pupils Amaan Ikbal, 15, Leytonstone, said: “When we saw the man was distressed we knew that we couldn’t just leave him there.

“We were inspired by other pupils at our school. We have seen other students win the Jack Petchey award for doing things that are community minded and we wanted to be the same.”

Musa Abhram, 15, Leytonstone, said: “The man was in a really bad way and there was no way we could just leave him there.

“Being a decent person as well as doing well in your study is something they say a lot at Buxton."

Other pupils who helped were Pajani Coopoomootoo, 15, Ben Acheampong, 15, Elian Kiffen, 15, and Idris Kulmige, 15.

Audrey Stoby, Waltham Forest park keeper, praised the teenagers, describing them as good role models for youngsters.

She added: "You often hear about teenagers misbehaving so it is important that when they do something they should be proud of then that is recognised.

"Remember this was a Saturday afternoon and I'm sure they had things they'd rather be doing. They could have just walked on and ignored this man but they didn't.

“Credit it to the school and their parents for instilling good values in these young men.

Buxton School Communities Leader Carol Moloney said: "We are very proud of these young men. They represent themselves, their families and the school in the best possible way by displaying this level of compassion and care within our community.”