Parents of schoolchildren are often asked to muck in and help out when it comes to their offspring's education.

But at one Croydon school parents have helped to redecorate the toilets and dining room as well.

The keen parents gave the washrooms and dining room a complete overhaul before painting murals on the walls of West Thornton Primary School in a bid for the school to be credited with healthy schools status.

And one of the helpers, Samantha Deowram, impressed the Rosecourt Road school so much that she has since taken up the permanent role of teaching assistant there.

Naina Chauhan, assistant headteacher and healthy schools co-ordinator at West Thornton, instigated the project.

She said: "Getting healthy schools status is not just about healthy food but it is about standards of hygiene as well and the school looking good," she explained.