A mini police group who were the pride of Cumbria last year have been named runners-up in a national police competition.

Last year’s Ewanrigg Primary School mini police team were the only school represented at the Lord Ferrers Awards which celebrates the contributions of Police Support Volunteers, Special Constables, Volunteer Police Cadets, and volunteers supporting the work of Police and Crime Commissioners.

The Maryport group lost out to other Cumbrians. the Eden Valley Police Cadets in the volunteer police cadet category.

Ewanrigg’s mini police organiser Alison Lancaster said the children were invited to London for the day “but we couldn’t let this opportunity pass.”

They were nominated for their award because of their work in improving parking on their estate, especially before and after school.

The children are now in their first year of secondary school. Four names were chosen from a hat and Netherhall School head David Tromans gave permission for the students to be absent from Monday to Wednesday. With them on their visit to the capital was Mrs Lancaster, head teacher Yvonne Craig and PCSO Emma Light.

“We had the time of our lives. We had an open bus tour, went on the underground and went to the theatre to see Wicked.

“On Tuesday we went to Lancaster House for the awards. It is opposite Buckingham Palace and is so grand inside that it was used as the palace in the television programme The Crown.”

The Ewanrigg School’s mini police were voted the best in Cumbria last year with Bobby Parker being voted the best mini policeman.

While in London, the group took the opportunity to lobby for a gap between mini police and cadets to be closed.

“Mini police finish at 11 and cadets start at 13.

Ewanrigg is already running after school events so last year’s mini police can carry on their work.