SCHOOLCHILDREN had an unusual visitor drop in when a helicopter landed on their playground. The visit was part of a project by pupils from Class 3 at St Ippolyts School who have been involved with the Royal Navy s ice patrol vessel HMS Endurance over the

SCHOOLCHILDREN had an unusual visitor drop in when a helicopter landed on their playground.

The visit was part of a project by pupils from Class 3 at St Ippolyts School who have been involved with the Royal Navy's ice patrol vessel HMS Endurance over the last seven months.

During that time the children have been learning about Antarctica after their teacher's brother, CPO Peter Morewood, set sail for the continent on board the ship.

The children have followed the journey of the ship using a tracking website and could submit questions and see their replies, including photographs and video clips, on the internet.

They even had a chance to visit the ship, go on a guided tour and enjoy lunch in the officers' mess when it was docked in Portsmouth.

If that was not exciting enough, some of the crew paid a return visit to the school in the Lynx helicopter.

The children were able to sit in the helicopter before CPO Morewood gave an illustrated talk to a packed school hall on the work of the ship in Antarctica.

Pupils and teachers are pictured welcoming the helicopter as it lands on the school playground and (right) with crew members aboard HMS Endurance.