A GROUP of Wrexham school children found an innovative way to keep cool on one of the hottest days of the year - by failing!

The pupils from Ysgol Heulfan had their Bear Grylls' skills well and truly tested when taking part in a forest school task to build waterproof shelters.

Video and images by Craig Colville

Shaun Williams, forest school leader said the children had to use nothing but sticks and tarpaulin and were warned the waterproof aspect of the shelters would be thoroughly tested, by several buckets of the cold stuff.

Mr Williams said: "The kids were split into two groups and basically given the scenario that they were stuck on a mountain and had to build a shelter in order to survive.

"The task had a competitive angle in that the group that made the more sounder structure had first pick on the tarpaulin's and the finished dens were then tested with buckets of water."

The successful group who made the sounder structure survived a soaking, while the other being not so lucky and ending up on the wet side of a bucket of cold water.

Mr Williams added: "I think the winning group were actually a bit gutted that they won because they got to stay dry!"

Mr Williams said the recent hot weather proved ideal to the task but emphasised how the forest school takes place all year round, come rain, hail, buckets or shine.