THE surrounds of Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre - the former Royal Dockyard Chapel - have never looked more pristine thanks to the hard graft of students from Pembrokeshire College.

The ten-member team and supervisors spent two days at the centre during the June heatwave and, with centre volunteers, tackled many tasks.

They were part of a wider scheme at the college which saw hundreds of college students on placements with community and charity partners around the county.

Tasks completed at the Heritage Centre included cutting back undergrowth and weeding, general tidying up of the grounds and painting outside benches.

The two imposing cannons which guard the front of the Dockyard Chapel have also been given a spruce up.

Danielle Bond of Pembrokeshire College said: “We are very grateful to all the organisations involved, giving up their time to allow the students of Pembrokeshire College the opportunity to undertake this volunteering activity.”

Stuart Berry, Centre Manager, added: “It has been fantastic to work with staff and students from the College, and they’ve done an outstanding job for us! This is exactly the type of mutually beneficial community partnership that we would like to be doing with a range of organisations in Pembroke Dock and beyond.”

Centre volunteers have also changed some exterior items around, with the Sunderland flying boat float now positioned on the mini roundabout near the entrance. A large propeller, believed to be from a Sunderland and recovered over 30 years by a Milford Haven trawler, is now alongside the visitor entrance.

Helping the students and also involved in other work were volunteers Steve Fletcher, Steve Canton, Chris Howell, Greg Laycock, Mike James, Alan Porter and John Mitchell.