A Chessington school which was awarded a grant to invest in a new boat have officially set sail on it down the River Thames.

Pupils from St Philip’s School, in Harrow Close, rowed on their new skerry, ‘Caroline’, which was bought through a Sport England grant with Skerries 4 Schools.

With the sun shining, they eventually came back to shore following a short journey where they met school principal Ben Walsh and governor Barbara McIntosh among others.

The boat was named after Orchard Hill Church Academy Trust chief executive Dr Caroline Allen OBE.

Organisation Skerries 4 Schools aims to help young people get into rowing and access potential opportunities.

A skerry is a type of yacht which is usually made of wood.