WHEN Afghan pupil Hiward Yarkhil joined Whitefields School, he was disappointed to find his national flag missing from the collection.

So a year later he was delighted when Barnet councillor Matthew Offord, cabinet member for engagement and community safety, offered to find one to fill the gap.

Mr Offord handed over the flag at an assembly at the school, in Claremont Road, on July 7 following presentations by Hiward, 13, and 16-year-old pupil Mansoor Fazli.

Hiward, who came to England when he was four, said: "I think it was really nice of Mr Offord to get us the flag. I know he has lots of meetings and commitments, but he put all that to the side.

"When I first came here, I was really disappointed that the school didn't have one, but seeing the flag with all the others now makes me feel really happy and proud of my country."

Mr Offord said: “During the hand-over assembly, pupils gave a presentation about the country and it was evident they had much pride of the place where they were born.

"The flag can now be hung with all the other flags of the world in the school hall.”

Mr Offord noticed the flag was missing when he visited the school in February to meet the Governor of Helmand Province, Gulab Mangal.

He then made a promise to source a flag from the Afghanistan Embassy for the 105 Afghan pupils.

Whitefields has around 60 flags in its hallway to represent the diversity of its students.

Only 14 per cent of the pupils are white and 72 languages are spoken.

Deputy headteacher Elaine Willey said: "The students were really thrilled to receive the flag and the Afghan pupils thought it was amazing.

"The flags are there to celebrate the multiculturalism of the students so it's great to add one more to our collection."