Pupils from an inner-city school got a taste of the countryside when they visited Walthamstow Wetlands with the Fishing for Schools initiative.

Twenty youngsters from Raynham Primary School in Enfield learned to cast and fish, enjoyed a wildlife walk and hunted for insects in the lake during the two-hour session on Tuesday.

And every member of the group aged between eight and 10 was lucky enough to catch a fish.

Teacher Hannah Brown said: “The session exceeded our expectations in every way possible.

“On the way home, the children said it was the most fun they’d ever had on a school trip.

“The memories made today will last for a very a long time.”

Raynham Primary School has a high number of children who are refugees, 94 per cent of pupils are from an ethnic minority and 80 per cent have English as an additional language.

Fishing for Schools is a UK-wide initiative which aims to help schoolchildren with additional needs or behavioural issues by providing activities.

Director, Charles Jardine thanked Thames Water for allowing the youngsters to explore the site.

He said: “It made a real difference to the children because they never get a chance to get out in nature.

“Walthamstow Wetlands is a fantastic oasis of countryside in the city, yet despite it being just 20 minutes from their school none of these children had visited before. They tend to go from home to school and back again.”

Will Barnard, Thames Water’s fisheries manager, added: “We’re always looking for new ways to engage with the communities we serve, and to educate youngsters about positive lifestyles utilising our green spaces.”