A disabled pensioner was so impressed by Good Samaritan teenagers that he arranged a visit to their school to say thank you.

Roy Taylor, 73, from Peacehaven, was upset in January when he was returning home from the town's library in his motorised wheelchair and discovered he had dropped a bag containing his chequebooks and medicine.

He had begun to look for it when he was spotted by a group of youngsters from Peacehaven Community School, who offered to help. They spent a considerable amount of time searching with him, unfortunately without success.

The pensioner was so impressed by their behaviour that he wrote to their headteacher to commend them.

Mr Taylor said: "One hears so frequently today adverse comments about the bad behaviour of youngsters often when in groups.

"My experience is totally opposite to such opinions. I felt that the friendly, sympathetic and caring attitude of the group should receive well merited attention and thanks directed in the main to the boys themselves but also include their school, teachers, and their parents, who should be very proud indeed of the results of their upbringing."

In response headteacher Helen Cryer invited Mr Taylor to visit the school in Greenwich Way, Peacehaven, and this week he took up the offer.

On Monday Mr Taylor and a group of his friends from the Peacehaven branch of the East Sussex Disability Association met with groups of pupils at the school. Among them were the teenagers who had helped him search for his bag.

He said he hoped the occasion would enable bridges to be built between the old and young generations in Peacehaven.

Mr Taylor said: "It's all about trying to get the old folks to know some of the youngsters and to build a rapport between the two groups so they can understand each other more."

Mrs Cryer said she was proud of the attitude of the pupils who had helped Mr Taylor.

She said: "It is very important for us here to develop links with the community. This visit has helped us bridge the gap between old and young people, hopefully that will translate into life outside the school as well."