GIRLS from Bolton School made headlines when they travelled to India to help the country's street children look forward to a bright future.

More than a dozen teenagers travelled to Vijayawada in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh to visit the charity SKCV — Street Kids Community Villagers Children’s Trust, which the school has been supporting, with previous students have travelled over in 2005 and 2011.

Their visit made the front page of the local newspaper featuring their visit to one of the temples after a VIP welcome at the Goddess Durga Temple, the second largest in India.

Francesca McDonand, aged 17, said: " It was really unexpected being on the front page of the newspaper"

Abbey Donnelly, aged 17, said: We didn’t expect to get any recognition for it — we just went out there to help!"

SKCV project was founded to help India’s street children to rebuild their lives.

The charity provides destitute children with homes in the form of a community village and offers them both medical care and an education.

The charity also runs a drop-in centre, night shelter and informal schools for children who still live on the street.

Sarah Richards, aged 17, said: It’s making a huge difference. I was talking to some of the boys and one of them was a helper who goes to the SKCV villages every summer.

"He told me that there was a brother and sister who saw their mother die in a fire that their father caused and the whole family was trapped inside the house — so the children had nothing. When they came to SKCV they got food, education, friends — a new family, really.

"They get a whole life. It’s so important that they have somewhere to go.

"Also, they really appreciate everything that they have — especially education.

"I think children over here don’t really realise how important education is, but over there they love it."

Annie Linfitt, aged 16 added: "It was just such a shock to realise the situations they had been in.

"There were also children with cigarette burns on their arms, which was horrible to think about."

The group helped lead activities and took gifts including stationary for the children.

Sarah added: " We’re trying to encourage younger year-groups to get involved.

"We don’t want ours to be the last visit — we want it to go on and continue even after we’ve left."

The girls are going to send the children present this festive season.

Amy Kadodwala, aged 16, said: "It was emotional thinking about the situation they had come from — the situations they have been in.

"When you were there, though, they were just so happy — although their past situation was horrible, they were so full of joy now that it was infectious and you loved being there."

Katherine Potts, aged 18, added:"It was a life-changing experience and I’d never done anything like it before."