PUPILS at Beech Grove Primary School in Wellington have been taking part in a competition to design the decoration for a miniature model rhino that will be placed in the school grounds.

Higher level teaching assistant Sue Keates won the rhino in a competition run by Paignton Zoo and once it has been decorated it will be one of several placed on a trail around Devon. It will be returned to the school in the autumn and join a model gorilla the school had from the zoo two years ago in part of the grounds.

Judges – headteacher Sara Tirrell, Naomi Philps, governor Sally Keeling, Wellington Mayor Janet Lloyd, Deputy Mayor Bob Bowrah, Gill Croucher, acting assistant to the town clerk, Georgina Disney, from the Friends of Beech Grove, and Mark Pritchett, from the WWN – met at the school on Thursday morning to pick the winning design and help choose a name.

Year 2 pupil Matilda, from Brunel class, won the competition with her rhino design using Beech Grove’s colours – a yellow base with a green leaf pattern. Pupils on the school council will pick a name from a selection chosen by the judges.