12864/2CHILDREN from three schools near Devizes have received awards for recycling enough paper to save 2,800 trees.

Pupils from Chirton Primary, St Barnabas Primary in Market Lavington and Lavington Secondary School scooped awards in the waste warrior competition run by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and the Hills Group.

Hills Group chairman Robert Hills, accompanied by the scheme's mascot a seven foot Viking waste warrior gave the children their awards at the group's materials recovery facility at Compton Bassett.

Together, the three schools have collected 165 tonnes of paper in a year, the same weight as about 600 small cars.

Chirton School won the waste warrior trophy and £500 for collecting the most paper per pupil 727 kgs each.

The school, which only has 29 pupils, was helped by the 400 residents in the small village.

Headteacher Cathy Hearn said that, with such small numbers, the amount collected was magnificent.

She said: "The village responded brilliantly. It was very satisfying arriving on Monday mornings to see the recycling bins overflowing with waste."

Money won by the school will be used to buy outdoor play equipment for children to use both in and out of school.

Lavington School won £250 for

collecting the most paper in a year 46 tonnes.

St Barnabas School was the best new comer in the scheme, collecting 291kgs per month to win a £250 cheque.

Teacher David Bold said: "It wasn't just pupils and staff who brought in newspapers and magazines but residents of the village."

After the presentation the pupils were shown around the recovery unit to see what happens to recycled paper.

They were also taken to a landfill site.

Naomi Silverton, of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, said: "The children saw a constant stream of lorries tipping rubbish into this huge hole.

"It demonstrated how quickly our landfill sites will be full."