Pupils at Oldfield Primary School are among the first in the UK to join a pilot environmental scheme.

The school is one of just 27 across Yorkshire and the north east to take part in the Green Check project.

The aim of the venture - devised by "green" charity Groundwork and sponsored by gas company United Utilities - is to help schools get more sustainable, while teaching children vital facts about safeguarding the planet.

If successful, the scheme could be extended across the UK.

Groundwork expert Dion Auriac has been working with Oldfield School's teachers and pupils and is now helping staff draw up an environmental action plan.

He said: "For such a small school, Oldfield's environmental credentials are already pretty good.

"It already grows some of its own food and has a bronze Eco-Schools award. With Green Check we hope to help it earn a silver standard."

Using programme resources, important data has been gathered about the school's water and energy usage, global footprint and transport issues.

Youngsters took part in a week of environmental activities to help cement their knowledge of green issues, with activities such as tree planting in the school grounds and a Fairtrade cookery session.

Key Stage One teacher Ruth Robinson said: "The children are getting a lot out of it all. It's very practical and we also worked with the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust for two days on projects that had a more global aspect.

"It's been a great project."