A group of students from Malmesbury secondary school came face to face with the crew on the Greenpeace ship Esperanza.

Crew members were quizzed by the pupils on Thursday asking them questions about climate change and whaling, via live video link.

The unique opportunity has put the school in league with the likes of US news channel CNN, which was recently the first organisation ever to see live footage from the ship.

Geography teacher Harvey Freer, who organised the link up through a personal contact said: "CNN were saying recently that they were the first people to have live footage from the ship.

"Well we were following in their footsteps but went one better with live comments.

"There was a big wow factor tied up with it to be able to see and talk to people on a ship in the southern ocean.

"The students were absolutely enthralled by it all.

"They have just finished a project about Antarctica so to see people out there was fantastic."

Students from year eight and 12 took part in the link up which lasted for 30 minutes.

The ship has been in the Antarctica for three months monitoring Japanese Whalers as part of an operation to protect the animals.

Mr Freer added: "Three of the crew members on the ship are from Bristol so it was nice for them to be able to know where we are from.

"They even said they could come in to the school when they get back and tell pupils about the trip.

"The pupils asked questions about whaling and the dangers of their job.

"Some asked general questions about climate change and monitoring global warming.

"Then at the end the camera panned around and we all saw their view from the ship. It was quite breathtaking.

"It was a nice atmosphere and we had a few laughs. It's not something many people get to try."