STUDENTS from Meadow High School, Royal Lane, Hillingdon, visited the HS2 rail line site at Maple Cross, where two giant boring machines are digging two 16km tunnels through the Chiltern Hills.

Meadow pupild had suggested naming one of the tunnel borers after Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, who spent many years in Claydon, Bucks, where she wrote numerous books on nursing.

This name, along with suggestions from other schools were put to the public vote, and Florence won.

Last month, Florence started what will be a three-year task to dig out the first tunnel, and the Meadow party was able see the machine before it fully disappears underground.

Work is being co-ordinated by Align, a joint venture involving three infrastructure companies, who will also build a 3.3k viaduct across the Colne Valley.