Children at Somersfield Academy were joined by their families to plant a prayer for world peace yesterday at a celebration to mark Earth Day.

To commemorate the special occasion, the school erected a brand new Peace Pole in the grounds of its Devonshire site as an internationally recognised symbol of hope, which is also inscribed with a simple message, May Peace prevail on Earth.

Somersfield Academy's original Peace Pole - which was a simple white post with the peace prayer written in seven different languages - was brought to the new site from the previous location in Warwick.

But yesterday, it was joined by the new pole, which is not only a medium for peace, but also a vividly stunning work of art. Artist Don Trousdell originally showcased his designer Peace Pole in a one-man show “A Celebration of Peace”. An anonymous benefactor then donated it to Somersfield Academy to grace their new campus on Middle Road, and, in the centre of a garden of daisies, it was officially unveiled yesterday.