Students braved the rapids at the venue that hosted the London 2012 whitewater games.

Students of Hendon School, in Golders Rise, were among 500 children from London, Hertfordshire and Essex rafting for free on Wednesday on the same rapids on which Team GB won gold and silver medals.

The schools festival, at the Lee Valley White Water Centre in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, also gave the students a chance to kayak, cycle, have mini tennis sessions, multi-skill football sessions as well as team building activities.

Regional park authority chief executive Shaun Dawson said: “For many of the youngsters, it’s their first experience of this adrenalin sport and we hope that this will be a springboard to getting into white water sports and becoming the stars of tomorrow.

“We will be running Schools Festivals at our other two London 2012 legacy venues on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – Lee Valley VeloPark and Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre – in September.”

For information about Lee Valley White Water Centre, visit their website or call 08456 770 606.