Pupils from Malmesbury School have returned from a summer expedition getting their hands dirty in a remote village in Laos.

On their three-week World Challenge test, 15 students and two teachers helped dig the foundations for a pre-school.

It took four days travelling by plane, trains and buses to reach Ban Nakhm, before work could start.

They enjoyed it so much they are planning to return in three years to see the completed school and join the 50th anniversary celebrations of a tribe they stayed with in northern Thailand.

Paul Bailey, 18, of Crudwell, said it had been a once in a lifetime experience.

“When people say something has been the best experience of their lives I usually think they’re exaggerating,” he said. “But this really was the best three weeks of my life, it was just amazing.

“The whole team got on really well and it felt great to know we were making a difference and helping people.

“Despite the language barrier we made some really good relationships with the people, especially the children. They loved doing the Hokey Cokey.”

Students took it in turns to lead the group each day, with a World Challenge staff member allowing them to take control.

Mr Bailey said: “They allowed us to make our own mistakes and learn from them.

“While working we were sleeping on concrete floors in the primary school. We were so tired after each day we would have slept pretty much anywhere.”

They finished the trip by travelling down the Mekong River.

Mr Bailey said: “On one of the days I fell asleep in the boat. I woke up and looked out to find an elephant standing right next to us in the river. It was magical.”

The group escaped the worst of the monsoon rains.

“We were expecting it to rain everyday but we were really lucky. We had quite a few dry days, which was good.

“The rain there is incredible, it is like an ocean coming down. In the UK when it rains you just go inside, but there, if you are outside you are soaked through in a second.

“I’ve had drier baths.”