PUPILS at Hoyland Common Primary School were given a behind-the-scenes tour of Europe’s largest parcel distribution hub.

Year two pupils toured Evri in Hoyland Common which covers 55 acres - about the size of 42 football pitches.

While there they learned the process a package goes through to be delivered, before putting their own gift bags onto the conveyor belt to be delivered to them at school.

Teacher Cameron Thomas told the Chronicle: “It went really well - we’ve done this now for two years with our year two children and it’s just a great initiative.

“It’s brought so much to our school - we’ve had Evri staff come in to talk to the children, it’s providing so many opportunities.

“As part of my role this year as well I’m looking at the community and how we can be more involved in the community - being with Evri as part of that has been brilliant.

“The kids have absolutely loved it, every time we come they have the best time.

“Genuinely we can’t thank Evri enough for what they’ve done for us over the past two years.”

Kids also took part in a Lego-building competition.

After the activities, a small award ceremony was held in which prizes were given out to pupils, including a remote control car and vouchers.

Pupils were overjoyed with the day, and when asked what they enjoyed most shouted ‘everything’.

Thomas Bramall, seven, who went on the trip, said: “It was amazing.

“We looked around inside and I got to put things on the actual elevator.

“I really enjoyed using the racing car and seeing how everything worked and moved. I also loved building with the Lego, it was fun.”

Thomas Parer, health and safety manager, added: “We did this last year with the kids, it’s something that Evri takes great pride in.

“Especially when we moved to Barnsley we really wanted to give back to the community, so this is some way we can do it.

“It’s great to see the kids.

“What we tend to find is that a lot of their parents work here, so it’s a really good thing for their children to come and see what their mum and dad do.”

Evri’s hub can currently process up to 1.1 million parcels per day, each of which travels along 12.5 kilometres of conveyor belts.

They recently took one of their eco-friendly trucks down to the school, so children could learn how it works as part of their science week.

“They asked for some equipment for their science we so we donated some as well,” Mr Parer said.

“We introduced the Lego future building this year so I’ve got to come up with a new idea for next year.

“Let’s see what else we can come up with.”