Pupils at Reigate's Dunottar School have been presented with a special commemorative gift that is certainly in mint condition.

The Mayor of Reigate and Banstead, Dr Lynne Hack, visited the school recently to award some of its students and staff with commemorative coins.

The coins were among 1,000 which were freshly struck to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Reigate and Redhill as a municipal borough.

Dr Hack said: “The aim is share the coins with either people who have assisted with an event, or people I’ve met at the town hall.

“I’m particularly interested in children receiving the coins, as this encourages an interest in the history of the borough and also in civic matters.”

Members of Dunottar Choir received a coin each for singing in the Holocaust Memorial Service at Reigate Town Hall last January - an annual event hosted by the mayor to commemorate the Jews who died in the Holocaust, and other victims of more recent genocides. The school's director of music, David Black, and mathematics teacher and pianist Susan Gough, who accompanied the choir, also received coins. And commemorative coins were also given to Year 6 students who, accompanied by their teacher Kim Jaggard and colleague Sylvie Machacek, visited the town hall last November, took part in a mock debate and quizzed the mayor.

Dunottar School head teacher Nikki Matthews said: “It is a privilege to be part of the borough celebrations this year, and all the staff and students are very proud to receive the coins and recognise the important part that our town hall plays in the community.”